Free screening of ‘American Coup: Wilmington 1898’ and panel discussion planned at Thalian Hall

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A free public screening of the documentary American Coup: Wilmington 1898 and a panel discussion exploring how the events of 1898 are taught and remembered will be held next week at Thalian Hall.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Main Theater at Thalian Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

The program begins with a screening of American Coup: Wilmington 1898, a documentary examining the violent overthrow of Wilmington’s elected government in 1898, the destruction of the city’s thriving Black community and the lasting impact of the events, widely recognized as the only successful coup d’état in U.S. history.

Following the screening, a moderated panel discussion will focus on approaches to teaching the history of 1898, supporting students studying difficult historical topics, using museums and local history as educational resources, and recognizing the achievements, leadership and resilience of Black Wilmington.

Featured panelists include:

• Guy Hill, a Harnett County educator who developed an AP African American Studies course after participating in a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship in Wilmington.
• Olivia Stetler, an employee of the museum and a key founding member of the Wrightsville Beach Museum Junior Docents, a high school student whose National History Day research project examined the Wilmington massacre and coup.
• Inez Campbell-Eason, who is the great-great-granddaughter of 1898 business owner Isham Quick and is featured in the documentary.

The event is organized by Carolina K-12 and Carolina Public Humanities. While it is part of the Harbors of Democracy teacher retreat, organizers say the documentary screening and panel discussion are open to all members of the public at no cost.