Witnessing New Mexico: The New Mexico Public Media Digitization Project

The act of reclaiming histories involves recovering perspectives and stories of peoples within a society at collective and individual levels that testify to their often unacknowledged active participation in past events. Through this process, communities can challenge histories that have denied visibility to groups that otherwise have been rendered “marginal” by mainstream society.

This section features programs about communities, institutions, and movements that have demanded and created change in New Mexico by challenging the status quo. Representing a broad range of topics, the programs in this section cover Indigenous and other local civilian demonstrations against public monuments valorizing colonial conquest, Black Lives Matter activists demanding an end to systemic racism and police brutality, prison inmate demands for reform, and more. These programs underscore the longstanding importance of activism, dissent, and resistance that significantly shape New Mexico’s intricate histories.

"We want our kids to succeed. We have dreams for our children, too. We don't dream of our children one of these days ending up in the penitentiary."

             - Nadine Cordova, New Mexico in Focus

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Surviving Columbus: The Story of the Pueblo People (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, October 12, 1992)

A Columbus Quincentenary special, Surviving Columbus: The Story of the Pueblo People presents the Pueblo Indians' view of the encounter with Europeans, which began one afternoon in 1539 with the arrival of a Spanish slave from Azamore, Morocco, and continues to this day.

Columbus Day Workshop (WGBH, Boston, MA)

The Columbus Day Workshop critically examines the myth of Columbus' impact in the U.S. southwest.

Report from Santa Fe, "Herman Agoyo and Cliff Fragua" (KENW-TV, Portales, NM, July 2, 2005)

In this episode of Report from Santa Fe, Herman Agoyo (San Juan Pueblo) and sculptor Cliff Fragua (Jemez Pueblo) discuss the artist's sculpture of Po'pay in the National Statuary Hall.

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New Mexico in Focus, "Juan de Oñate Statue Protest" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, June 19, 2020)

New Mexico in Focus, "Juan de Oñate Statue Protest" shows a bitter fight over the proper historical place for one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Southwest. As protestors in Albuquerque tried to yank down his likeness, a self-appointed group of armed guards riled the crowd and shot a demonstrator.

New Mexico in Focus, "Reconsidering La Entrada" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, August 17, 2018)

In New Mexico in Focus, "Reconsidering La Entrada," correspondent Matt Grubs talks with former New Mexico State Historian Estevan Rael-Gálvez about changes to this year's La Entrada tradition.

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New Mexico in Focus, "Black Lives Matter Protests" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, June 5, 2020)

In New Mexico in Focus, "Black Lives Matter Protests," correspondent Megan Kamerick talks with a protest organizer, an educator, and a city leader about the struggle of Black Lives Matter organizers to separate their message from broader anger and especially from violence.

New Mexico in Focus, "Young Organizers and Activists of Black Lives Matter" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, July 31, 2020)

In this segment of an episode of New Mexico in Focus, organizers and activists from the Learning Alliance of New Mexico and Fight for Our Lives discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and institutional reforms.

At Week's End, "The American Dream" (New Mexico PBS, Albuquerque, NM)

In response to the L.A. riots after the Rodney King trial, people at a rally view the rioting as a revolt against the failure of American democracy in At Week's End, "The American Dream."

Angela Davis (KUNM, Albuquerque, NM, November 19, 1973)

Angela Davis speaks at Popejoy Hall at the University of New Mexico. She talks about the power of organized masses of people speaking against racism and oppression.

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Penitentiary of New Mexico Riot Footage (KOB-TV, Santa Fe, NM, February, 1981)

The New Mexico State Penitentiary riot in February 1980 was one of the most violent prison riots in U.S. history with a total of thirty-three inmates dead and hundreds of others injured. In Penitentiary of New Mexico Riot Footage, inmate Dwight Duran reads an agreement negotiated between prison officials and inmates.

Illustrated Daily, "New Penitentiary Facilities" (New Mexico PBS, Albuquerque, NM)

Illustrated Daily, "New Penitentiary Facilities" provides additional background information about the 1980 riots at the New Mexico State Penitentiary in Santa Fe.

Monuments to Failure, "America's Prison Crisis" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, 1988)

Filmed in California, Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, and New Mexico, the award-winning Monuments to Failure, "America's Prison Crisis" looks at the U.S. prison crisis.

Illustrated Daily, "Grant's Women's Prison" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM)

Illustrated Daily, "Grant's Women's Prison" captures a protest at the women's prison in Grants, New Mexico.

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New Mexico in Focus, "Luminarios" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, May 21, 1999)

In New Mexico in Focus "Luminarios," Nadine and Patsy Cordova were teaching Hispanic students about their people’s struggle for civil rights until the school district fired them on February 28, 1997. They later won a half-million-dollar lawsuit.

¡Colores!, "Los Valientes" (New Mexico PBS, Albuquerque, NM, March 29, 1994)

¡Colores!, "Los Valientes" celebrates the unknown people of Hispanic northern New Mexico communities.

Southwest Sound Collage, "Los Tesoros del Espíritu: A Portrait in Sound of Hispanic New Mexico" (KUNM, Albuquerque, NM, June 18, 1990)

Southwest Sound Collage's "Los Tesoros del Espíritu: A Portrait in Sound of Hispanic New Mexico" covers challenges and threats to Hispanic culture in New Mexico as a result of land rights struggles.

Espejos de Aztlán, "José Rodríguez and Rudy Miera at Tiffany's Playhouse" (unedited version) (KUNM, Albuquerque, NM, November 16, 1981)

In this episode of Espejos de Aztlán, José Rodríguez and Rudy Miera discuss the monumental musical drama "Nuevo Mexico, Sí," which brings to life New Mexico's complicated history.

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Vado: The Unspoken History (KRWG, Las Cruces, NM, December 2003)

In Vado: The Unspoken History, Henry Boyer, a resident of Georgia who was working for the Army delivering supplies in the late nineteenth century, became enchanted by New Mexico during a brief visit. Boyer dreamed of creating a life where Blacks could own land, raise families, and live in peace in southern New Mexico.

¡Colores!, "Blackdom" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, February 25, 1997)

¡Colores!, "Blackdom" is the virtually untold story of Black pioneers Frank and Ella Boyer, who dreamed of creating a “colony” for Black people in NM.

Women of the Land (KENW-TV, Portales, NM, November 10, 1992)

Women of the Land is a short documentary about Vado (New Mexico) with community leader Gussie Mae Braddy.

New Mexico in Focus, "African American History in New Mexico" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, October 18, 2013)

In New Mexico in Focus "African American History in New Mexico," three experts share their knowledge about African American history in New Mexico.

New Mexico in Focus, "Black Business Leaders in New Mexico" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, February 26, 2010)

In New Mexico in Focus "Black Business Leaders in New Mexico," community leaders share histories of Black communities in Albuquerque at the famous Black-owned business Mr. Powdrell's Barbeque House.

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Moments in Time: Stories of New Mexico's History, "Remembering the Santa Fe Japanese Internment Camp" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, 2011)

Moments in Time: Stories of New Mexico's History, "Remembering the Santa Fe Japanese Internment Camp" details the experiences of Japanese Americans who were forced to relocate to Santa Fe, New Mexico to live in the internment camp. From 1942 to 1945, the U.S. government incarcerated people of Japanese descent, including U.S. citizens, in these isolated camps across the western half of the U.S.

¡Colores!, "The Japanese American Experience in New Mexico" (New Mexico PBS, Albuquerque, NM, January 24, 1990)

¡Colores!, "The Japanese American Experience in New Mexico" details the Japanese American experience in New Mexico, from World War II concentration camps to present day migration.

New Mexico in Focus, "Internment Camps for Japanese Americans" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, July 29, 2019)

Nikki Nojima Louis' father was sent to the internment camp in Santa Fe and she and her mother were sent to Idaho. In New Mexico in Focus "Internment Camps for Japanese Americans", she discusses this experience.

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Illustrated Daily, "The AIDS Epidemic in New Mexico Grows" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, November 15, 1985)

Illustrated Daily, "The AIDS Epidemic in New Mexico Grows" takes an in-depth look at the 1980s AIDS epidemic and how it is impacting communities in New Mexico.

Illustrated Daily, "AIDS" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, May 9, 1985)

At the time of broadcast, New Mexico AIDS cases were increasing faster than the national pattern. The two-part special Illustrated Daily, "AIDS" presents new understanding about AIDS research.

At Week's End, "Women with AIDS" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, October 12, 1992)

At Week's End, "Women with AIDS" shows that AIDS no longer strikes just gay populations. It is spreading through the heterosexual masses and, in increasing numbers, to women.

Focus on Education, "Legal Rights of Children with AIDS" (KUNM, Albuquerque, NM, June 1, 1988)

In Focus on Education, "Legal Rights of Children with AIDS", Dr. Ruth Luckasson discusses legal issues related to educating children with HIV and AIDS.

New Mexico in Focus, "HIV Updates in New Mexico" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, April 24, 2015)

New Mexico in Focus "HIV Updates in New Mexico" provides details on HIV prevention and treatment in New Mexico.

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Report from Santa Fe, "Martha Burk" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, July 26, 2008)

In Report from Santa Fe, "Martha Burk," Dr. Martha Burk discusses the "glass ceiling," pay equity, and childcare in New Mexico.

New Mexico in Focus, "Women's Right to Vote in New Mexico" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, July 3, 2020)

In New Mexico in Focus, "Women's Right to Vote in New Mexico," Correspondent Megan Kamerick leads a conversation about the history of women’s suffrage in New Mexico.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) (KUNM, Albuquerque, NM, February 24, 1975)

KUNM presents a program on the move to repeal New Mexico's ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) with Sarah Bradly (Pro-ERA) and Joe Carraro (Anti-ERA).

Focus on Education, "International Women's Day" (KUNM, Albuquerque, NM, March 3, 1988)

In Focus on Education, "International Women's Day," International Women's Day is recognized by a conversation between Ann Nihlen and Dr. Jane Slaughter about gender equality and policies.

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Invisible Children (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM)

"Invisible children" are the invisible victims of our country's prison system, the children of incarcerated parents. KNME's documentary Invisible Children looks at the challenges these children face, how they cope with losing a parent to prison, and their courageous struggle to overcome their parents' examples.

Public Square, "Incarceration or Graduation?" (KNME-TV, Albuquerque, NM, June 25, 2015)

The U.S. is known for its high rate of incarceration, a trend that carries over to young people in our society. Public Square, "Incarceration or Graduation?" asks how can we change this reality?

Espejos de Aztlán, "Juan López and Jana López" (KUNM, Albuquerque, NM, November 17, 1983)

Espejos de Aztlán, "Juan López and Jana López" introduces the directors of STOP (Services To Offenders Program), who created a non-profit program that helps formerly incarcerated parents.

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