How does the 24th Amendment relate to civil rights?

The 24th Amendment, ratified in 1964, directly relates to civil rights by eliminating poll taxes in federal elections, which had served as a financial barrier to voting, particularly affecting African Americans and poor individuals. By abolishing this requirement, the amendment aimed to promote equity in the electoral process and ensure that all citizens had the opportunity to vote without facing financial obstacles. This was a crucial step in the broader civil rights movement, as it sought to dismantle systemic racial discrimination in voting practices.

The emphasis on the elimination of poll taxes highlights the ongoing struggle for suffrage among marginalized groups, particularly in the context of the Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination in the South. By prohibiting poll taxes, the 24th Amendment helped to advance the idea that voting is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all citizens, regardless of their economic status.