This research was performed in order to examine the character of African American political participation and political culture in Brunswick County, North Carolina, and how it had evolved prior to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and following its passage. In this historical research study, it is argued that from Post-Reconstruction to the period following the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, there was a generational pattern of inconsistent and non-voting practices by African Americans in Brunswick County, North Carolina. This pattern of behavior is cause for concern because when African Americans fail to maximize their political participatory potential, they stand to forfeit their opportunities to elect representatives and influence policy-making.

In an effort to determine why African Americans in Brunswick County voted at such low and inconsistent levels, an analysis was made of their political, economic and social conditions during four historical eras. The study included the following historical eras: (1) the period of Reconstruction (1865-1877); (2) the end of Reconstruction and the Rise of Racial Segregation (1878-1944); (3) the modern Civil Rights Movement and Racial Adjustment (1945-1965); and (4) the period following the passage of the Voting Rights Act (1966-2000).

The research strategy employed was the case study. The primary research technique involved the utilization of qualitative methods. These methods employed the collection and documentation of detailed historical data from library research, observation, verbal descriptions of historical incidents, oral interviews, and settings involving African American political, economic and social conditions over time (1865-2000).

The historical research indicated that since Reconstruction, African American political, economic and social conditions have been primary factors in influencing levels of political participation. With the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, African Americans experienced gradual increases in levels of political participation. Implications from the study are that many African Americans in Brunswick County simply choose not to participate politically; and that by not participating, they relinquish a right, a responsibility, and a voice in decision-making matters that impact their quality of life.