In the 19th Century, Black Civil War hero Robert Smalls of South Carolina lost reelection to the House after the state legislature redrew his district to dilute the voting power of Black citizens.
Now, nearly 150 years later, his great-great-grandson, Michael B. Moore, is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina. And like his ancestors, Moore’s chances may be shaped by redistricting. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments in a South Carolina case to determine whether state lawmakers engaged in illegal racial gerrymandering.
“He was gerrymandered out of a seat,” Moore said of his ancestor Smalls. “The world is very different and we’ve come light years from where we were at that point, but the same tool continues to rear its ugly head for the purpose of amassing or preserving political power. It’s ugly … and it goes against the principles of democracy.’’
