Black Montana: Settler Colonialism and the Erosion of the Racial Frontier, 1877–1930

Toward the end of the nineteenth century, Black Americans migrated westward, often appropriating land from Native Americans and contributing to violence against them. In Black Montana, Anthony W. Wood explores the entanglements of race, settler colonialism, and state and regional identity in the American West, depicting the history of Montanas Black community from 1877 until the 1930s.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2023
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Toward the conclusion of the nineteenth century, a significant number of African Americans embarked on westward migration, coinciding with the waning of Greater Reconstruction. While Black settlers, alongside Euro-Americans, engaged in the appropriation of Native American land, their presence often fueled ongoing violence against Indigenous communities. Despite these challenges, their migration often defied the objectives of settler states in the American West.

Black Montana, authored by Anthony W. Wood, delves into the intricate interplay of race, settler colonialism, and the formation of state and regional identities in the American West during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. By creating conditions of social, cultural, and economic precarity that eroded Black Montanans' networks of kinship, community, and financial stability, the state of Montana, functioning as a settler colony, actively worked to exclude the burgeoning Black community that emerged within its borders following Reconstruction.

Black Montana offers a captivating portrayal of the history of Montanas Black community, spanning from 1877 to the 1930s. This period in western American history holds immense significance and represents a unique geographicaluncture in the trajectory of the U.S. settler-colonial project. Through meticulous research and analysis, Wood sheds light on the experiences, struggles, and resilience of Black Montanans, illuminating their contributions to the region's rich tapestry.

This book is a valuable addition to the literature on race, settler colonialism, and the American West, offering a nuanced and empathetic perspective on a marginalized community's historical journey. Black Montana serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles and challenges faced by marginalized groups in the pursuit of equality and justice, and it underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing the legacies of settler colonialism in shaping contemporary society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496237484