Blackdom, New Mexico: The Significance of the Afro-Frontier, 1900–1930

by Timothy E. Nelson, Herbert G. II Ruffin (Foreword)

Blackdom, New Mexico, was a township that lasted about thirty years. In this book, Timothy E. Nelson situates the township’s story where it along the continuum of settlement in Mexico’s Northern Frontier. Dr. Nelson illuminates the set of conscious efforts that helped Black pioneers develop Blackdom Township into a frontier boomtown. “Blackdom” started as an inherited idea of a nineteenth-century Afrotopia. The idea of creating a Blackdom was refined within Black institutions as part of the perpetual movement of Black Colonization. In 1903, thirteen Black men, encouraged by the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson  decision, formed the Blackdom Townsite Company and set out to make Blackdom a real place in New Mexico, where they were outside the reach of Jim Crow laws. Many believed that Blackdom was simply abandoned. However, new evidence shows that the scheme to build generational wealth continued to exist throughout the twentieth century in other forms. During Blackdom’s boomtimes, in December 1919, Blackdom Oil Company shifted town business from a regenerative agricultural community to a more extractive model. Nelson has uncovered new primary source materials that suggest for Blackdom a newly discovered third decade. This story has never been fully told or contextualized until now. Reoriented to Mexico’s “northern frontier,” one observes Black ministers, Black military personnel, and Black freemasons who colonized as part of the transmogrification of Indigenous spaces into the American West. Nelson’s concept of the Afro-Frontier evokes a “Turnerian West,” but it is also fruitfully understood as a Weberian “Borderland.” Its history highlights a brief period and space that nurtured Black cowboy culture. While Blackdom’s civic presence was not lengthy, its significance—and that of the Afro-Frontier—is an important window in the history of Afrotopias, Black Consciousness, and the notion of an American West.

Genres: History

216 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2023

Reviews

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a history of the Blackdom town in southwestern New Mexico (Chavez County) in the early 1900s as Black settlement. There were several forces which brought Blacks to this area including military service, the absence of Jim Crow laws, and available land for homesteading. The Buffalo Soldiers were centered in Arizona and served as the first border patrol along the Rio Grande River. Many of these soldiers returned to the area like minister Frank Boyer after completing his education at what was to become Morehouse College. The residents of Blackdom were educated and inspired by the concept of Black self sufficiency. Chavez County is located in the Permian Basin and the Blackmon residents much like the Native Americans in The Killer of the Flower Moon, became wealthy off their oil leases. Here the story parts ways as the Black residents took their oil money and left for New York and the West Coast where their success would not be as conspicuous.

I was fortunate to hear a lecture by Dr. Nelson recently at the Santa Fe Public Library, and the concept of Blacktopia and role of African Americans in the frontier. Racism may be the boots on the ground like the KKK in Roswell NM and government offices, or it may be the control of the media to intentionally manipulate or block newsworthy stories that may rankle the egos of their readers.

[Matt Heavner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and important history of New Mexico, the US, race, and the frontier. An interesting thesis. This is written someone academically (it is an outgrowth from a PhD thesis after all) with some jargon (discussion of ontology, a difference in definition between Blackdom and “Blackdom”, as a few examples). Some of the writing was a bit repetitive (there were a few paragraphs that were repeated almost exactly). It was an interesting mix of the history of Blackdom, and broader history of race and racism, a more cultural and framing discussion that was a bit harder to follow, and some of the person narrative of the author. It was an interesting mix.

The history aspect was extremely interesting and important to bring forth.

[tinaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wished for more from this. It is such a good book that just feels like it is missing elements to elevate it.

Some sentences repeated themselves in odd places, as id they were just copied and pasted, and stories about the people of Blackdom didn’t feel developed enough. I had been hoping for accounts from descendants of this town, interviews and insights into what the founders might have said/left about creating such a place.

I’m hoping that this will lead to more insight into Blackdom and other black incorporated towns that have been hidden and under represented in history.

[Brace1737 · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you write a history of a place that existed less than sixty years and is not considered a ghost town? You find every bit of information and link them together. Timothy Nelson has done this and added another chapter in the history of Afro- Americans in New Mexico.
At times it is difficult to read but worth it if you enjoy reading New Mexico history.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd mix of academic analysis (this was clearly an edited dissertation), memoir, and history. I found the structure frustrating so ended up skimming. I'll definitely be looking up more homesteading history so it sparked an interest.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unless you have short term memory loss this book will be boring. The author repeats the same information over and over again. Sometimes a few paragraphs after stating it. The book was disjointed and I felt like I never got a cohesive telling of the history of this unique place.

[Patrice Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family was one of the founders of Blackdom. It was wonderful reading about my ancestors and others who were brave enough to set out and find a better life.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is poorly written, organized, argued, and edited. I can’t believe a university press (Texas Tech) published it.