Question

How did the ratio of voter registration rates change between African Americans and whites as a result of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
African American voter registration rates surpassed white registration rates.
African American voter registration rates equaled white registration rates.
African American voter registration rates became lower than white registration rates.
African American and white registration rates were not affected.

Answer 1

African American voter registration rates equaled white registration rates.

Explanation: The 1965 Voting Rights Act removed literacy tests and other barriers and put federal oversight in place, leading to a dramatic rise in Black registration in the South. Within a few years Black registration rates rose to roughly the same levels as white registration (in some localities they even exceeded white rates, but overall the effect was to close the gap and produce parity).