When White Supremacists Overthrew A Government

The Wilmington, North Carolina massacre, also known as the Wilmington Race Riot of 1898, was a violent and racially motivated attack on the African American community in Wilmington, North Carolina, that took place in November 1898. It was one of the most significant incidents of racial violence in the United States during the post-Reconstruction era.

At the time, Wilmington had a diverse and politically active population, with African Americans playing a prominent role in local politics. The white supremacist Democrats, who were in the minority, sought to regain control of the city and state government from the Fusionist coalition of Republicans and Populists, which included a significant number of Black leaders and voters.

In November 1898, white supremacists, led by prominent Democrats, orchestrated a campaign of intimidation, disinformation, and violence. They published racially charged editorials in the local newspaper and spread false information about an alleged “Black uprising.” On November 10, a mob of armed white supremacists, numbering in the hundreds, attacked the African American community in Wilmington. They burned homes, destroyed Black-owned businesses, and forced many Black citizens to flee the city. An unknown number of Black residents were killed or injured in the violence.

As a result of the massacre, the Fusionist government was overthrown, and white Democrats regained control of the city and state. This event marked the beginning of the era of Jim Crow laws and racial segregation in North Carolina. African Americans were effectively disenfranchised, and their political power was significantly reduced.

The Wilmington massacre is a tragic and significant event in American history, illustrating the racial tensions and violence that characterized the post-Reconstruction South. It’s also a reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil rights and racial equality in the United States.