The ideal of fairness in our society often feels like a hollow jest, particularly in the context of the Voting Rights Act. It’s preposterous to be governed by laws or leaders that don’t represent one’s vote or agreement; such a scenario stands in stark contrast to the notion of justice. Furthermore, the legislative history in the United States is marred by policies that have systematically impeded minority voting rights. Even well-intentioned efforts to address these disparities through the Voting Rights Act seem to fall short due to the act’s inherent deficiencies. Adding to the complexity is the issue of gerrymandering, with its controversial redrawing of electoral maps and districts, which opens up a whole new dimension of unfairness. Indeed, when viewed today, fairness seems like a joke.

Fairness is the F word.