Few African-American living in Deep South were allowed to vote before march . Obama 1965 led to swift passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 . Activists : Obama has benefited from struggle of civil rights `` foot soldiers '' As an African-American woman living in the South , she was one of a few black Americans who had the right to cast a ballot as early as 1953 . `` There 's nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come , '' says Williams .
Few African-American living in Deep South were allowed to vote before march . Obama 1965 led to swift passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 . Activists : Obama has benefited from struggle of civil rights `` foot soldiers '' `` There 's nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come , '' says Williams .