Prohibition of Voting Discrimination: The amendment explicitly states that the right to vote cannot be denied or abridged by the United States or any state based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This means that African American men, who were previously enslaved, were granted the legal right to vote.
Enforcement Clause: The amendment also grants Congress the power to enforce its provisions through appropriate legislation. This has allowed for subsequent laws aimed at protecting voting rights, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Impact and Limitations: While it legally enfranchised African American men, various discriminatory practices like literacy tests and poll taxes emerged in many states, particularly in the South, effectively disenfranchising many Black voters until later civil rights advancements.