Which of the following best describes a "white primary"?

A "white primary" refers to a primary election that was conducted exclusively for white voters, effectively excluding African Americans and other minority groups from participating. This practice was prevalent in several Southern states during the early to mid-20th century and was used as a means to maintain racial segregation and disenfranchisement.

The significance of this practice lies in its broader implications for voting rights and civil rights in the United States. White primaries were a tool to undermine the political power of African American citizens by ensuring that the outcomes of primaries — which often determined candidates for the general election in heavily Democratic states — were solely in the hands of white voters. The legality of such practices was challenged and ultimately addressed in various landmark Supreme Court cases, particularly with the ruling in Smith v. Allwright in 1944, which deemed white primaries unconstitutional.

Understanding this term is crucial in the context of American history as it illustrates the systemic efforts to suppress minority participation in the electoral process.