The Hidden History of Wilmington, North Carolina: The Violent Overthrow of Democracy

🔑Wilmington, North Carolina in the late 1800s was a city with a majority black population and a rarity in the post-Civil War American South.

✊🏿Black Americans held political power and were successful entrepreneurs in Wilmington prior to the violent coup d'état.

🗳️The Fusion Party, a coalition of Republicans and Populists, brought about reforms favoring black Americans and working-class whites.

🔥The Democratic Party launched a campaign of racism and white supremacist propaganda to regain control of the state.

💔The coup d'état resulted in the loss of black political representation, the enactment of Jim Crow laws, and the suppression of black rights.

What were the motivations behind the violent coup d'état in Wilmington?

—The Democratic Party aimed to regain control of the state and overturn the political and economic power held by black Americans.

How did the Democratic Party use the media to fuel racial resentment?

—The Democratic Party-owned newspaper published racist political cartoons and spread false narratives about black men threatening white women.

How did the coup d'état affect the black population of Wilmington?

—The coup d'état led to the loss of black political representation, the enforcement of Jim Crow laws, and the suppression of black opportunities and rights.

Why is the history of the violent overthrow of democracy in Wilmington not widely known?

—The history has been covered up, and textbooks on North Carolina's state history have struggled to accurately describe the events of 1898.

What is the legacy of the coup d'état in Wilmington?

—The legacy includes ongoing political suppression, racially motivated gerrymandering, and the intimidation of the black community.

00:00In 1898, a violent coup d'état took place in Wilmington, North Carolina, resulting in the overthrow of a democratically elected government.

02:00Wilmington was a city with a majority black population and experienced a period of black prosperity and political representation.

05:00The Democratic Party launched a campaign fueled by racism and white supremacy to regain control of the state.

07:00The coup d'état led to the loss of black political representation, the enactment of Jim Crow laws, and the suppression of black rights.

09:00The history of the violent overthrow of democracy in Wilmington has been covered up and not widely known.