Despite African Americans making up a significant minority in the state, they had been unable to elect any representatives in most of the at-large jurisdictions.
dᵻspˈaɪt ˈæfɹɪkən ɐmˈɛɹɪkənz mˌeɪkɪŋ ˌʌp ɐ sɪɡnˈɪfɪkənt maɪnˈɔːɹᵻɾi ɪnðə stˈeɪt, ðeɪ hɐdbɪn ʌnˈeɪbəl tʊ ᵻlˈɛkt ˌɛni ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntətˌɪvz ɪn mˈoʊst əv ðɪ ætlˈɑːɹdʒ dʒˌʊɹɹɪsdˈɪkʃənz.