This week, Harvard University professor Henry Lewis Gates Jr. talks about his work on the documentary, Reconstruction, America After the Civil War.

The PBS series looks at changes that occurred in the 12 years after the Civil War, including giving formerly enslaved men the right to vote.

So I call the summer of 1867 the first freedom summer.

80% Joe, 80% of all eligible black men registered to vote.

Think of that.

We don't have 80% anybody registered to vote today.

The class is part of a series of lectures at the Citadel.

More in a moment.

Welcome to our class, the why and the how, the making of the international African American museum.

I'm Professor Kerry Taylor.

I teach history here at the Citadel.

And I assist Mayor Riley with this spring course.

Before I turn it over to my colleague, Mayor Riley, to introduce our very special guests.

I just wanted to let you know that following remarks from Professor Henry Lewis Gates and some conversation between Professor Gates and Mayor Riley will have time for a few questions from our students.

Again, welcome all. Thank you for joining us. Mayor Riley. Thank you very much. Gary,

Professor Gates, ladies and gentlemen.

Henry Lewis Skip Gates is truly one of a kind.

He is joyful, a witty comment is never far away.

He is kind and he is generous. Whenever I've called

or emailed him, usually about the International African American Museum, a response is instantaneous

as if he has nothing else to do. And of course, he does. He is the Alphonse Fletcher University professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University.

He is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, cultural critic, and institutional, institution builder who is authored or co-authored 25 books and created 23

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