Alanah Odoms

The Essence Festival of Culture will feature panels addressing Black political disenfranchisement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Louisiana v. Callais, which weakened the Voting Rights Act. The Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) will highlight impacts of redistricting in Louisiana, where one of two majority-minority congressional districts was eliminated. Panels will focus on voting rights, redistricting, and strategies to protect Black political power.

Louisiana suspended its House elections after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the state's congressional map unconstitutional for racial gerrymandering. Gov. Jeff Landry declared an 'electoral emergency' to delay primaries, allowing lawmakers to redraw districts, which could reduce majority-Black districts currently represented by Black Democrats.