"Token on the Freedman's Coat"
Thomas Mundy Peterson was the first African American voter under the 15th Amendment. This program focuses on the other thing Thomas Mundy Peterson is remembered for,
receiving a gold medal in 1884 from the citizens of Perth Amboy for being the first African American voter under the Fifteenth Amendment. By putting this event in the broader context, the story becomes more complex. While it underscored how indeed unusual it was for Perth Amboy's white community to celebrate his vote, it also came in the middle of the post-
Reconstruction reversals of voting and civil rights Peterson would witness in his lifetime that remain relevant today.
Gordon Bond is an independent historian, writer, and lecturer specializing in New Jersey history. in 2008, he founded Garden State Legacy, a free online quarterly New Jersey history
magazine and resources website. He has written numerous articles for GSL as well as five books on various NJ history topics.
This program is sponsored by The Friends of the Englewood Library.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3483004-0
