The Supreme Court’s War on Voting Rights and Black Political Power #TheOtherSideOfChange

6.8.2026 #TheOtherSideOfChange: The Supreme Court’s War on Voting Rights and Black Political Power

In this week’s episode of The Other Side of Change, Jamira Burley and Brea Baker examine how the Supreme Court has become one of the most powerful forces shaping American democracy. From the weakening of the Voting Rights Act to the rise of the shadow docket, they connect recent court decisions to voter suppression, racial gerrymandering, polling place closures, and attacks on Black political representation.

The conversation traces the fallout from Shelby County v. Holder, the erosion of federal voting protections, and the growing influence of unelected justices over issues ranging from elections to reproductive rights. They argue that the fight over voting rights is inseparable from the broader fight over who holds power in America, who gets represented, and whose voices are pushed to the margins.

As states move to redraw districts and restrict access to the ballot, Burley and Baker discuss what resistance looks like now, from Selma to local organizing efforts across the South. They make the case that protecting democracy requires more than voting every few years—it requires sustained organizing, coalition building, and a renewed fight for Black political power.

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