WILMINGTON -- The 1898 Wilmington race riots are a touchy subject for some. But a handful of UNCW film students are tackling the issue head on.
Filming started this week on a movie called "The Red Cape," which follows the events of the 1898 Race Riots.
Rather than trying to send a message to viewers the producer says the crew is really just trying to raise awareness of what happened.
More than 100 years ago a mob burned the building housing the Daily Record newspaper. Now the moment is being relived on camera, but not without some controversy.
Producer Brendon Murphy said, "The surrounding community here has been really supportive of what we're doing, which is really good. There have been some people would rather we had just left the subject alone."
Murphy says the sole purpose of the film is to educate people about the race riots -- a dark time in local history, in which 22 African Americans were killed.
He said, "I feel like it's something that should be in history books, and it's just basically telling people that this happened."
Some actors taking part in the film say they hope that message gets across.
Actor Larry Jefferson Jr. said, "It's a great attribute and it's bringing back the realism of what we went through."
Film crews will be shooting around downtown Wilmington until April then the editing process will begin.
The film should be completely finished by November and the producer says some local museums have already agreed to show the film on a regular basis.
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UNCW film students tackle 1898 Race RiotsSubmitted by WWAY on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 6:51pm.READ MORE: UNCW film students tackle 1898 Race Riots
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A film, by any other name.........
I would suggest that UNCW could have produced a film that actually had relevance in today's time frame.
The 1898 project, with whatever motivation, is speculation and unverifiable. Each side has an opinion, with some historical details.
Instead of this project, UNCW students could have done a project detailing slavery today, as more and more young black men are slaves to drugs, and the crimes that go along with it.
The self-induced slavery of crime and drugs have killed more black men than racist's and bigots ever could.
Such a project would not be as popular, but would have been immensely more informative and useful as opposed to 1898.
We all know of the inequities of the past, but a generation of today could use a reality check in the areas of drugs, crime, and responsibility, something that is seriously lacking today.
As usual, UNCW once again just gets it wrong.
1898 Race Riot
the revisionist website, racist fantasy
Keep Me Posted
riots
Sorry! You must have
race riots?
Are you kidding?? I mean
Emotion Versus Fact
1898wilmington.com
I stumbled across the website 1898wilmington.com while doing some research on the 1898 race riot. I could tell that it was a white supremacy website trying to spin its own angelic history almost immediately. You can not change what you don't acknowledge. We have to recognize that people of color have been the victims of some of the worst homegrown terrorism this country has ever encountered. This is not fiction, this is the truth. Poor people of all colors (including white) ask for handouts or assistance, hey they want to feed their kids. If a large number of the poor are African Americans then you need to acknowledge that 400 years of slavery and oppression of people based on the color of their skin has probably contributed to their poverty. The fact that anybody can rise out of such harsh oppression as the black business owners of Wilmington did before the race riot
is a testament to their strength and resilience and they should be memorialized as heroes and leaders of our country.
Race Riot in Wilmington NC 1898
It isn't pretending, Fool.
Idiotic...
Umm, yeah...you said blacks should be suing other blacks. No one that I know that is black has ever said anything about getting reparations or wanting them. But the fact is realized that there were many black people that became successful or had the chance to and were robbed of it by racists bent on scaring them into inferior positions and roles. This has robbed many families of building an inheritance and something to pass down. Especially when the education system, which was racist at the time, denied them decent educations. it takes many generations to break the cycles of slavery that neither you, or obviously, anyone in your family could possibly understand. I do. I am black. All I have to do is ask my family about their experiences. My great-grands parents went through this and so did they. Even today, it is hard for many in my family to break the cycle of poverty. My parents were able to and I am the first generation with much to inherit and that could readily afford and dedicate my entire time towards an education beyond high school. This post is a bit late, but hopefully someone won't read the last post and think that this discussion will end on such ignorant thoughts. You presume to explain and rationalize things which you were never touched by and obviously did not research.
Truly stupid, and YOU should be ashamed
Exactly how can YOU presume to know what has affected my life, or what I've studied? YOU are the idiot for making such ridiculous claims. Let me break it down for you, and I'll try not to use big words that would no doubt confuse you.
FACT: You may be black, but if you've lived in this country throughout your life, NO, you have NO idea what it means to be a slave. You see, slavery was abolished in these United States long before you were born. You can't possibly know what being a slave is like, so open your mouth and chew on your foot some more. By your ridiculous logic, I should claim that I know all about what it means to be accused of witchcraft because I'm female and I had female ancestors who were alive during the witch trials. You share DNA with your ancestors, you Idiot, NOT experiences.
FACT: Black people are not the only people who were ever denied chances to improve their lives. Blacks were recognized as citizens long before women were. Therefore, your "Poor, poor pitiful me" routine is downright laughable.
FACT: I am white. I am also the first person in my family to receive a college degree. At no point in the history of my ancestors could any of them have been accused of being wealthy or even close to wealthy. On both sides of my family tree, there's been only the working class. Do not EVER again make the mistake of assuming that I know nothing about living in poverty. As a female and a proud Native American, I have had to work very hard for everything. No one ever gave me ANYTHING. Everything I have is something I earned by working for it. So I do not for one second buy into your excuse that breaking the "cycle" takes numerous generations. Each generation in my family worked extremely hard, and each improved their own condition through determination and hard work, despite facing their own setbacks. Don't even try to argue this point with me. Blacks are no longer segregated, and haven't been for quite some time. MY people, however, are. Don't believe me? Look into it. It's called PUTTING AND KEEPING PEOPLE ON A RESERVATION, and it continues to this day. The only way Native Americans can hold on to their own cultural identity is to agree to the federal goverment's terms of living separate and apart from the rest of society. Those of us that make the decision to leave the reservations do so knowing full well that we'll be facing a constantly uphill battle.
FACT: Slavery continues TO THIS DAY on the African continent. If YOU would have done research, you would know that many tribes in Africa continue to engage in the cultivation, sale, and profit of slavery. So YES, if black people want to sue someone over slavery, they should start by suing black tribal members who continue to enslave other blacks on the African continent. After all, if it's truly an end to slavery and NOT reparations that you seek, you should be attacking all who continue to perpetuate slavery.
FACT: The United States currently has a black president. IT'S THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND, and a black man now holds it! Don't tell me blacks have been forced into inferior roles. And while we're at it, let me point out the obvious: Name one female president the United States has ever had. Name one Native American that has ever been president. You can't. You CAN, however, name a black person who has. Your argument is completely ridiculous.
This post is a bit late, and I sincerely hope lots of people WILL read it so that they can see how truly stupid and pathetic you and those who think like you really are.
percentage says it all
I live in fayetteville. The percentage during 1800s 45% black 55% white Fayetteville. 60% black 40% white Wilmington. Today 2011 Blacks 45% Whites 55% in Fayettville. 20% Blacks 70% White in Wilmington.