When white supremacists overthrew a government

Summary

The transcript recounts the events of the 1898 Wilmington Coup in North Carolina, where white supremacists violently overthrew a democratically elected multiracial government. At the time, Wilmington had a prosperous Black community and significant Black political representation. Through media-fueled racist rhetoric and intimidation, the Democratic Party incited fear and resentment among white voters, ultimately leading to a violent coup. Dozens of Black residents were killed, many fled, and white supremacists took control of the city. The event significantly impacted racial politics in North Carolina and its legacy persists today.

Takeaways

• 📚 For years, Wilmington's library kept records about the events of 1898 under lock and key, restricting access to historical information.
• 🚫 The Wilmington events in 1898 involved the violent overthrow of a democratically elected, racially inclusive government, a rare instance in post-Civil War America.
• 💼 Before 1898, Wilmington had a majority Black population with successful Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and elected officials, showing what a multiracial society in the South could look like.
• 📜 In the 1890s, North Carolina's Democratic Party used white supremacy as a platform to regain power and control in the state after multiracial fusionist government successes.
• 📰 Democratic-aligned newspapers spread racist rhetoric, including fears of ‘Negro domination’ and the danger posed to white women, to stoke white resentment and anger.
• ✉️ After Black newspaper editor Alex Manly refuted white supremacist claims about Black men, his editorial was manipulated to incite more racial tensions before the election.
• 🎩 Through voter intimidation, violence, and paramilitary groups like the Red Shirts, Democrats forced a fraudulent election victory in 1898.
• 🔥 Following the election, white supremacists burned down Black newspaper offices, took over city government by force, and installed a new white mayor.
• 💀 Dozens of Black residents were killed, thousands fled the city, and Wilmington’s Black majority population was permanently diminished.
• 📘 Wilmington’s violent history was downplayed in textbooks, with sympathetic portrayals of white supremacist leaders, leaving a complex legacy of political suppression and systemic racism that echoes in North Carolina today.

Q & A

What was the political landscape of Wilmington, North Carolina in the late 1800s?

Wilmington was the largest city in North Carolina and had a majority black population. It was unique in the South due to its black prosperity and inclusion of black elected officials in government. The city was run by a Fusion government that shared power between black and white politicians.

How did the Democratic Party view the multiracial Fusion government in North Carolina?

The Democratic Party, whose platform focused on white supremacy, saw the multiracial Fusion government as a humiliation. They were determined to regain control and sought to break the alliance between white Populists and black Republicans.

What strategy did the Democratic Party use to regain political power in North Carolina in 1898?

The Democratic Party employed a strategy of racial resentment, using media to stoke fears of 'Negro domination' and portraying black men as threats to white women. They also employed the paramilitary group known as the Red Shirts to intimidate black voters and disrupt elections.

Who was Alfred Moore Waddell, and what role did he play in the 1898 events?

Alfred Moore Waddell was a Democratic leader and a key figure in the 1898 Wilmington coup. He incited violence against black citizens, advocating for white supremacist control. After the coup, he was installed as the new mayor of Wilmington.

What was the significance of Alex Manly's editorial in the Daily Record newspaper?

Alex Manly, a black newspaper owner, challenged the racist myth that black men were a threat to white women by suggesting that many relationships between black men and white women were consensual. His editorial enraged white supremacists and became a catalyst for the violence in Wilmington.

What happened during the Wilmington coup on November 10, 1898?

On November 10, 1898, a white mob burned down the offices of the black-owned Daily Record newspaper and overthrew the legally elected Fusionist government. The mayor and city officials were forced to resign, and Waddell was installed as mayor. Black residents were killed, and thousands fled the city.

How did the media and historians portray the events of 1898 in the years following the coup?

For decades, the events of 1898 were misrepresented. Textbooks downplayed the violence, often labeling it as 'unfortunate for both races.' Many sources praised Democratic leaders like Charles Aycock, a key instigator, as kind-hearted and friends of the black community.

What were the long-term effects of the Wilmington coup on the black community and politics in North Carolina?

The Wilmington coup led to the suppression of black political participation. Black representation in government ended, and Jim Crow laws were quickly enacted to prevent black people from voting. It took 90 years for North Carolina to elect another black Congress member.

How has the legacy of the Wilmington coup impacted modern politics in North Carolina?

The legacy of the coup echoes in modern politics, with voter suppression tactics like gerrymandering and strict voter ID laws. Many in the black community still feel the effects of political intimidation and exclusion, drawing parallels to the exclusionary policies of 1898.

What role did white supremacist propaganda play in the events leading up to the 1898 coup?

White supremacist propaganda, particularly through Democratic-leaning newspapers, was crucial in rallying white support. Cartoons, articles, and speeches promoted fear of 'Negro domination' and incited violence by portraying black men as threats to white women and black politicians as illegitimate.