The Black City America Overthrew; The Wilmington Coup of 1898

In 1898, a white supremacist mob overthrew the elected government of Wilmington, North Carolina. They burned a Black-owned newspaper, attacked Black residents, forced elected officials out of office, and seized control of the city. Known as the Wilmington coup, this shocking event was part of a calculated campaign to destroy Black political power in America. Thousands of Black residents were driven from their homes, and the violence helped establish a new era of white supremacist rule. In this documentary, we uncover the events leading up to the coup, the role of racial propaganda and political intimidation, the destruction of the Daily Record newspaper, and the devastating consequences for Wilmington's Black community. How could an elected American government be overthrown by white supremacists—and why did this story remain underrepresented in the nation's history for so long? Watch until the end to understand one of the most consequential acts of racial and political violence in American history. Subscribe to AfriEye for more documentaries exploring Black history, power, identity, and stories that deserve to be remembered.