What was the purpose of literacy tests in southern states?

The purpose of literacy tests in southern states was primarily to ensure that voters could read and write. These tests were implemented during the Jim Crow era as a means to disenfranchise African American voters and, in some cases, poor white voters. By requiring individuals to demonstrate reading and writing skills, the tests functioned as a gatekeeping mechanism that disproportionately impacted minority populations who may not have had access to quality education.

The tests often featured complicated questions or passages that were subjectively graded, allowing for discrimination in their administration. As a result, while ostensibly aimed at assessing literacy, these tests were actually designed to limit the voting rights of certain groups, maintaining white supremacy in the political system. This historical context illustrates the discriminatory nature of literacy tests and their role in upholding systemic racism rather than fostering an educated voter base.