American Coup: Wilmington 1898

Overview

American Coup: Wilmington 1898 tells the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city — the only successful coup d’état in the history of the US. Stoking fears of “Negro Rule,” self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Many Black residents were murdered, and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — are seeking the truth behind this intentionally buried history.

Guest Stars

Hilary Brown

Self

Carole Jerome

Self

Stephen Kinzer

Self

James Q. Roberts

Self

Barbara Rosen

Self

Barry Rosen

Self

Gary Sick

Self

Alan Campbell

Josephus Daniels / Other Voices