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Food for Thought: Thomas Goode Jones and the Quest for Racial Justice in the New South
August 17, 2017 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
One of the most notable Alabama politicians of the post-Civil War era, Thomas Goode Jones’ career reflects the fascinating and unsettled history of Alabama and the Deep South at the turn of the twentieth century. A Civil War hero, Jones served as governor from 1890 to 1894, fighting tenaciously against efforts to disenfranchise African Americans. His efforts garnered the attention of Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt, who made Jones a federal judge in 1901. Although imperfect and unsuccessful, Jones’s efforts are a reminder of the nuances of racial politics during this tumultuous period of Alabama’s history.
Dr. Brent J. Aucoin is Professor of History and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at The College at Southeastern, a school of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He is the author of the first comprehensive biography of Thomas Goode Jones entitled Thomas Goode Jones: Race, Politics & Justice in the New South (University of Alabama Press, 2016). A native of New Orleans, Dr. Aucoin earned a BA in History from Louisiana State University, an MA in History from Miami University, and a PhD in History from the University of Arkansas, where he focused on race relations after the Civil War. He currently resides in Wake Forest, NC with his wife and four boys. Copies of Thomas Goode Jones: Race, Politics & Justice in the New South will be available for purchase at the presentation.
Admission to Food for Thought presentations is always FREE! The public is invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Complimentary beverages are provided.