Wednesday, May 28 at 8 p.m. on KERA Television Thursday, May 29 at 6 p.m. on KERA Radio Television rebroadcasts: Monday, June 16 at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22 at 9:30 p.m.

Twenty years have passed since two African-American activists filed a federal lawsuit and changed the way Dallas elects its city officials. At issue was the election of some city council members to “at large” seats, in which all voters could cast their ballots. The lawsuit contended that the cost of campaigning city-wide diluted minority voting strength. Federal Judge Jerry Buchmeyer agreed and ordered elections to be held under an all single-member district system.

KERA examines the impact of Roy Williams and Marvin Crenshaw v. The City of Dallas in an all-new program, Sharing the Power: A Voter’s Voice Special. 

In Sharing the Power, KERA Morning Edition Host Sam Baker interviews Williams and Crenshaw about the basis for the lawsuit and the years of legal maneuvering required to see it through. He also talks with community leaders who shaped the voting rights debate. A panel of analysts will discuss the changes that have taken place since the federal court ruling, the consequences of moving to single-member districts and whether minorities are more equitably served in the City of Dallas since the ruling. The program also takes a look at the role of single member districts in other North Texas communities.