Final answer:
Organizers encouraged blacks to try to register for the regular Democratic Party to challenge disenfranchisement and exert political influence in the South, where the Democratic primary was essential for election victory. The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and civil rights legislation like the Voting Rights Act helped dismantle barriers, leading to increased political participation and representation among African Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
Organizers encouraged blacks to try to register for the regular Democratic Party because it played a crucial role in the electoral politics of the Southern states. At the time, the Democratic Party was the dominant party in the South, so winning its primary was tantamount to winning the general election. Since the Democratic Party restricted membership to whites, African Americans who were disenfranchised could not participate in selecting candidates who would later govern them, essentially voiding their political influence even if they could vote in the general election.
The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) arose in response to the exclusion of black voters from the Democratic primaries. The MFDP's efforts, along with those of civil rights activists, eventually led to significant civil rights legislation, such as the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. Moreover, after the abolition of the white primaries, registering to vote and participating in the Democratic Party offered blacks a way to influence political outcomes directly.
By encouraging African Americans to persevere in registering and participating in the political process, organizers hoped to challenge the systemic barriers to voting and achieve greater political representation. Over time, this strategy of empowerment through voter registration and political involvement led to important shifts in political power dynamics, notably in urban areas where black voter registration numbers began to reflect or surpass the national average, contributing to the election of black politicians and mayors in America's largest cities.