The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were meant to rewrite America after the Civil War — to end slavery, make all people born here citizens, and guarantee Black men the right to vote. They were supposed to be the foundation of freedom and equality. But over the years, those promises have been chipped away, challenged, and twisted in ways that still harm Black communities today.
The 13th Amendment ended slavery — except as punishment for a crime. That one line created a loophole big enough to rebuild slavery under a new name. After the Civil War, states passed “Black Codes” to arrest newly freed people for things like loitering or not having a job. They were thrown into prisons and leased out to work for plantations, railroads, and factories. Fast forward to today — prison labor still exists, and Black Americans are still disproportionately arrested and incarcerated. The amendment that was supposed to free us is still being used to force unpaid or low-paid labor from those behind bars.
The 14th Amendment promised equal protection under the law. Yet for nearly a century after its passage, segregation laws openly violated it, and the courts let them stand. Even today, racial profiling, unfair sentencing, and unequal access to education and housing prove that equal protection is still not a reality for everyone. Recent court rulings limiting affirmative action show that some of the tools used to level the playing field are being taken away.
The 15th Amendment said the right to vote could not be denied because of race. But states quickly found ways around it — poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation at the polls kept millions of Black Americans from voting. It took the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to break down those barriers. But in 2013, the Supreme Court gutted a key part of that law, allowing states with a history of discrimination to change voting rules without federal oversight. Since then, we have seen voter ID laws, closed polling places, and fewer early voting days — changes that make voting harder, especially for poor and minority communities.
These amendments were supposed to be the backbone of freedom. Instead, they’ve been bent and twisted over time, and we are still fighting to make them mean what they say. This is not just history — this is today. Mass incarceration, voter suppression, and systemic inequality are the proof. If we care about freedom, we cannot look away. We must vote, speak out, and demand leaders who will protect these rights, not weaken them.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are not just words on paper. They are promises. And it’s up to us to make sure America keeps them. Voting Matters… so please vote!
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Marvin Dixon/Founder
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