Join us for a powerful and illuminating lecture series with Dr. Timothy E. Nelson, author of Blackdom, New Mexico: The Significance of the Afro-Frontier (1900-1930), as he uncovers the nearly forgotten story of Blackdom—a bold Afrotopian experiment in liberation, land ownership, and Black self-determination at the turn of the 20th century.
Through deep historical research and newly uncovered primary sources, Dr. Nelson reframes Blackdom’s story—not as a lost dream, but as part of a dynamic legacy of Black colonization and Afro-Frontier settlement in the American Southwest. Learn how thirteen Black men, inspired by a vision of freedom beyond the reach of Jim Crow, built a township rooted in faith, community, and ambition—one that would eventually evolve into an oil boomtown and leave behind a rich, complex legacy.
Part 3 The Blackdom Oil Company (30 mins)
In a brief presentation, Dr. Nelson will highlight the Herron Family Homesteads, patented during the Revival Period and which fueled the Third Period of Blackdom. Dr. Nelson refers to it as Blackdom’s Boomtimes. Notably, this period included the Roaring Twenties and the New Negro Movement, also known as the Harlem Renaissance.
Don’t miss this opportunity to reclaim and reconnect with this vibrant chapter of New Mexico and Black American history.
Hosted by the ACLU of New Mexico Black Donor Network
