Literacy tests

Literacy tests are assessments designed to evaluate an individual's reading and writing abilities. Historically, these tests were used in various contexts, including education and job applications, but they were also controversially employed to restrict voting rights, particularly in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. Many literacy tests were intentionally difficult and discriminatory, aimed at disenfranchising specific groups, especially African Americans. Over time, legal changes, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, abolished these practices, recognizing their role in systemic inequality and advocating for broader access to voting and education.