Blackdom, New Mexico wasn’t just any small town – it was a sacred space. In the early 1900s, the town was a safe haven for our people. Anyone tired of racism, white terrorism, and hatred was welcome. Best of all, they could settle on the land for free!
What started with one Black family soon became a colony of well over 300 settlers. The town thrived with an excellent school, churches, and prosperous businesses. As if things couldn’t get any better, something AMAZING happened.
The town struck oil! Determined to reap the benefits of the oil, the entire community created Blackdom Oil Company and purchased shares. The community was set for generations of wealth from the oil!
It’s a good thing, too – because what happened next was nothing short of a tragedy.
The town suffered a drought, and its land became uninhabitable. Families left in scores, and by the end of World War I, it was essentially a ghost town. But they didn’t leave empty-handed.
Because they’d pooled their resources to start their community business, they were all filthy rich by today’s standards!
The families were able to settle and purchase even more land, anywhere they chose. As Blackdom proves, when we all cooperate to work together, we can create generational wealth and freedom for our entire community from economic oppression!