Kenyans lining up at dusk at a polling station in downtown Nairobi. *AP
“The First Vote” by Alfred R. Waud 11/16/1867 Illus. in: Harper’s weekly, v. 11, no. 568
The day finally arrived, and the Thomas Mundy Peterson Plaque was unveiled at Historic St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where Thomas Mundy Peterson was a member, and is the site of his final resting place. On the program were many speakers who spoke about the importance of Thomas Mundy Peterson casting a historic vote as the first Black man to vote after the passage of the 15th Amendment. This vote took place in the Historic City of Perth Amboy.
Thomas Mundy Peterson
Thomas Mundy Peterson had a personal connection to two powerful men (J.L. Kearny and Marcus Spring) who encouraged him to vote. This sealed Peterson’s importance in American and Perth Amboy history. Peterson was an honorable man, who was very community minded and well respected. He wanted to make sure he was the first Black voter before he was presented with any kind of recognition.
Historian John Dyke mentioned in his speech that if Thomas Mundy Peterson were alive today, he would wish Perth Amboy a happy 300th anniversary of being incorporated. I, myself would wonder what Thomas Mundy Peterson would think of the low voter turnout in Perth Amboy today. I feel he would have a tinge of sadness. He would be looking at the number of people registered to vote in Perth Amboy and wonder why a majority who can vote, don’t. He probably would wonder of what he did was that important if most people do not exercise the right to vote.
I wonder what Thomas Mundy Peterson would think of the dismal voter turnout today. If I was Thomas Mundy Peterson, this is what I would be thinking:
Look at what I and others before me had to go through just for the right to vote. On that day that I cast my vote, I as a Black Man could vote but many others could not. Most women couldn’t vote until the passage of the 19th Amendment. The voter age was lowered to 18 years old in the 26th Amendment. I constantly see voter registration signs in windows urging people to sign up. I guess they do so, but I don’t know what occurs on election day. I see now they make it so easy for people to vote. They actually mail you ballots that you can mail back. In my day, only soldiers could vote absentee. I’m looking at other countries where people line up for hours and put their lives in danger just for a chance to vote. In these polling locations there are armed guards are posted. Still, in some of these countries not everyone can vote. I was so proud when the citizens of Perth Amboy awarded me with a distinguished medal. I wore it proudly. I love the community of Perth Amboy and the people and the state of New Jersey. I’m glad to see such rich history and to be a part of it. I just don’t understand what happened to make people so disinterested in democracy.
Let’s face it, we are a majority, minority City of which the majority don’t vote. Run-offs would be a waste of time and money. As far as I’m concerned, I really don’t care if people vote or not. I’m tired of begging people to vote. People are adults. There’s a saying: you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. If only 10 people decide the outcome of an election, so be it. I’m not holding anybody hands or making any excuses. A majority of people are not restricted, they just choose not to vote. They know what to do – be a grown-up. I’m no longer holding your hand. C.M.
Suffragettes *AP
