African-American Voter Turnout Analysis

During the 2008 election African-Americans came out in much larger numbers than the previous years. The 2008 presidential elections were said to be the most racially and ethnically diverse in U.S. history, with nearly one-in-four votes cast by non-whites, according to a new analysis of Census Bureau data by the Pew Research Center. The voter turnout rate among young black eligible voters was higher than that of young eligible voters of any other racial and ethnic group in 2008 (Lopez and Taylor). African- American women and younger African- American had much larger voter’s turnout than the previous presidential elections. 95% of all African American votes went to the democratic candidate Barack Obama. The levels of participation by black, Hispanic and Asian eligible voters all increased from 2004 to 2008,

For Hispanics, participation levels also increased, with the voter turnout rate rising 2.7 percentage points, from 47.2% in 2004 to 49.9% in 2008. Among Asians, voter participation rates increased from 44.6% in 2004 to 47.0% in 2008. Meanwhile, among white eligible voters, the voter turnout rate fell slightly, from 67.2% in 2004 to 66.1% in 2008. (as shown in figure 1) Minorities voter turnout was at an all-time high because Barack Obama names was on the ballot. In the 2008 election Obama received a high number of votes and high voter turnout rate. He secured his position as the 44th president of the United States. Barack Obama made history in 2008 by becoming the first African American president. Many people were for sure that would put an end to long-term history of racism in this country. One of the most detrimental things that happen to the black community was the declared “war on drugs” which lead to mass incarceration. The war on drugs was a direct target on minorities. It was a failed attempt to eradicate the drug problem in the United States. African-Americans did not see policy changes on drugs until