Reproductive freedom and health equity at the State Innovation Exchange: op-ed

This is a guest opinion column.

Growing up in Birmingham, the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement was never confined to a textbook. It lived in the vibrant streets, the stories shared at home, and the pews of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, where faith and justice were woven together. Long before I grasped the complexities of redistricting or voter dilution, I understood that Black political power in the South was a frequent target, and that ordinary citizens fought, marched, and sacrificed to make democracy a reality.

The Modern Fight for Political Representation

Today, Birmingham and other cities across the South find themselves at a crossroads, determining whose voices deserve to be heard and whose communities will be carved up for political gain. State legislatures are redrawing political maps with a familiar, troubling objective: to limit Black political power and reverse decades of progress. However, Alabama and its neighboring states must continue to lead the push for advancement, with state legislators now picking up the mantle.

The fallout from the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais has stripped away vital Voting Rights Act protections, creating an opening for conservatives to redraw maps in Black-majority communities. While these efforts may appear more polished than the tactics used in 1965, disguising themselves through "race-neutral" language and manipulated lines, the core struggle remains: who holds power, who gains representation, and whose bodies and lives are protected by law.

Tactics of Exclusion

Lawmakers frequently employ "packing" and "cracking" strategies to undermine Black voting power under the guise of fair elections. Packing forces Black voters into a small number of districts to minimize their broader influence, while cracking splits communities apart to dilute collective strength. Despite the fact that 71% of Americans oppose drawing congressional districts to favor a specific party, and the clear evidence that these tactics are used to unlawfully suppress voters, extremist politicians persist in using them to maintain their hold on power.

Power, Autonomy, and Health Equity

The erosion of Black voting power is inextricably linked to attacks on bodily autonomy and fundamental freedom. When political power is compromised, our rights become increasingly vulnerable. This is especially evident in healthcare, where Black women in the South face the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. Statistics show Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Too often, those most impacted by these disparities are sidelined when policy decisions are made.

A Call to Action

The stakes of these redistricting battles could not be higher. The survival of our democracy hinges on state legislators willing to fight back. At the State Innovation Exchange (SiX), we are dedicated to empowering those leaders with the support needed to champion change. We are advocating for federal voting rights protections and transparent, independent redistricting processes that truly benefit everyone. When politicians select their voters rather than the other way around, the progress achieved by our predecessors is at risk.

The fight for Black political power has not ended; it has merely evolved. Today, the battle over district lines is a battle over the future of our communities and our worth. From Birmingham to Atlanta, Black Southerners have historically overcome poll taxes, intimidation, and violence—and we will overcome gerrymandering too. We are not asking for democracy to work for us; we are demanding it stop being weaponized against us.

Jennifer Driver is senior director of Reproductive Freedom & Health Equity at the State Innovation Exchange.