Final answer:
In Selma, Alabama, systemic barriers such as "literacy" tests and law enforcement intimidation led to 97% of eligible black voters being unregistered during the Civil Rights Movement; efforts to change this resulted in the Selma Campaign and the historic Selma to Montgomery marches.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Selma, Alabama, 97% of the 15,000 eligible black voters were unregistered during the Civil Rights Movement. Although African Americans represented a considerable portion of the population in Selma, they faced systemic barriers in the voter registration process. These barriers were a result of segregationist policies and included measures such as lengthy "literacy" tests and intimidation by local law enforcement. The Selma Campaign, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists, aimed to address the discriminatory practices preventing black citizens from registering to vote. This effort culminated in the Selma to Montgomery marches and significantly contributed to the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.