Atlanta, GA, September 17, 2026 – As part of its statewide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Georgia Historical Society (GHS) will present From Poll Taxes to Protests to the Presidency: How Civic Engagement Changed America in the 20th Century on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta.

The free public program will feature a conversation between Dr. Kevin Gaines, the Julian Bond Professor of Civil Rights and Social Justice at the University of Virginia, and Dr. Stan Deaton, the Dr. Elaine B. Andrews Distinguished Historian at GHS.

Together, Gaines and Deaton will explore how civic engagement changed America in the years following World War II. How did the right to vote and the meaning of citizenship expand and evolve during those years? How has the right to vote been challenged over time? What is the role of frequent, free, and open elections, and how have Americans participated in them? What does history say about the peaceful transfer of power?

“Kevin Gaines is one of the most distinguished historians of post-World War II America and perfectly suited to discuss how civic engagement changed the United States during those pivotal decades, from the Cold War era through the Civil Rights movement and beyond,” said Deaton. “We’re thrilled to get the chance to sit down with one of our country’s leading scholars to explore how the role of ‘citizen’ has evolved over the course of American history.”

Gaines is a past president of the American Studies Association. He has written extensively on African American history, art, music, literature, and culture. His work has appeared in major academic journals and publications including The New York Times, and he has lectured at universities throughout the United States and internationally.

He is the author of Uplifting the Race: Black Leadership, Politics, and Culture During the Twentieth Century and American Africans in Ghana: Black Expatriates and the Civil Rights Era. His forthcoming book is The African American Journey: A Global History.

Gaines previously joined GHS in 2020 for The Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement: A Conversation with Kevin Gaines. The full program is available to watch on the GHS website.

The program will take place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, 441 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy NE, Atlanta, GA.

The event is free and open to the public, with advance registration requested for those planning to attend. Guests are encouraged to register here.

As part of the 2026-2027 Georgia History Festival, this program is made possible in partnership with the UVA Club of Atlanta and through the generous support of The Home Depot.

For additional details, please visit www.georgiahistoryfestival.org or contact Keith Strigaro, Director of Public Relations and Communications, at 912.651.2125, ext. 153, or by email at [email protected].