Black History Month: The Wilmington Coup of 1898

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — February is black history month. We talked with filmmakers and a historian about the tragedy in Wilmington in 1898, who say it’s important to look back and reflect on local history. 

“Black history is American history,” Brad Lichtenstein exclaimed.   

The Wilmington Coup of 1898 is considered a pivotal part of port city history. 

Cape Fear Museum historian Janet Davidson says the coup followed the local election when the multi-racial government was overthrown. 

“Coordinated attempt to take power away from African Americans in North Carolina. So, the idea was that if you can suppress the community here in Wilmington, in this place of black majority it will send a message to the rest of North Carolina. ”  

Following the Coup, segregation laws were intensified.  

Davidson emphasizes the importance of being educated on the events in 1898 and honor those who died.  

“Saying if we are talking about history, we should be talking about black history in every turn. We see with 1898, some of the struggles and pain that African Americans have experienced in our community. It is important for us to acknowledge, honor and recognize those that were harmed,” Davidson stated.   

In November, a documentary – American Coup: Wilmington 1898 was released. It is produced and directed by Brad Lichtenstein and Yoruba Richen.   

Richen says the story of the 1898 Coup was buried, so her goal was to recover it and share it.   

“Many black families couldn’t talk about it because it was so traumatic. So, it was something that is still unknown to many people to most people today. So, we were really excited to tell this story and to have it as wide a reach as possible,” Richen shared.  

Lichtenstein says understanding history is crucial to the American dream.   

“The best way for our country to understand itself and to be able to realize the dream of what the promise of America is. Is to be able to reckon with our past and to try and make our future not repeat some of the mistakes that we have made so often in our past,” Lichtenstein said. 

If you’d like to see the film, you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, PBS, and YouTube. The Cape Fear Museum also has an 1898 exhibit open to the public.