From the violent and fatal 1921 election riots in Ocoee through modern redistricting issues, this presentation explores voter suppression in Florida over one hundred years and the prime figures in the struggle for full and equal access to the polls.

James Abraham is a former journalist who now edits and publishes books. His Book-Broker Publishers, which he founded in 2004, has produced and edited more than 500 books in a variety of genres. Abraham is a writing coach, critic, and lecturer. He has conducted the longest-running race relations class in Charlotte County. A graduate of Oberlin College, Abraham is the author of Century: A People’s History of Charlotte County.

“Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and Florida Humanities. Support for the local exhibition and programming was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.