Gotham City

English Professor Carla Peterson wins 2011 New York City Book Award. 

English Professor Carla Peterson wins 2011 New York City Book Award. 

English professor Carla Peterson's “Black Gotham: A Family History of African-Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City” won the New York Society Library’s 2011 New York City Book Award for History.  She was presented with the award at a ceremony on May 2, 2012.  “Black Gotham” is Peterson’s personal exploration into the lives of her nineteenth-century African-American ancestors in New York. Relying on an impressive array of archival material, she resurrects her family’s friends, neighbors and associates and leaves a reminder of their important achievements and contributions to the history of the city.   The New York City Book Awards honor books of literary quality or historical importance that evoke the spirit or enhance appreciation of New York City. The awards were established in 1996.  The 2011 New York City Book Awards jury is chaired by Roger Pasquier. Its current members are Lucienne Bloch, Barbara Cohen, Jules Cohn, Andrew Dolkart, Joe Drape, Bobbie Leigh, Mark Magowan, Cynthia Saltzman and Meg Wolitzer.