White Primary

The White Primary was a discriminatory practice that was used in some Southern states in the United States during the early 20th century, particularly in the late 1800s to mid-1900s. It referred to the practice of allowing only white voters to participate in primary elections, effectively excluding African Americans and other minority groups from the political process.

These primaries were typically held by political parties, and since the party was considered a private organization, they argued that they had the right to determine who could participate in their internal elections. By doing so, they aimed to maintain white supremacy and exclude African Americans from holding political office or having any influence in the electoral process.

The White Primary was ultimately challenged and declared unconstitutional in the landmark Supreme Court case Smith v. Allwright in 1944. The court ruled that these private party elections were considered state actions, and therefore, subject to the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits racial discrimination. This decision played a significant role in the civil rights movement and the dismantling of legal barriers that prevented equal participation of African Americans in the political process.