We Have Taken a City Wilmington Massacre and Coup of 1898

In the 33 years following the end of Civil War, African-Americans living in Wilmington, North Carolina had made extraordinary political and economic advances. They constituted a numeric majority, owned land and businesses and held significant elected and appointive positions. With the November elections of 1898, however, all this changed. In three days of racial violence a mob of whites, led by some of Wilmington's most respected and influential citizens, forcibly expelled from the city black and white leaders opposed to Conservative Democratic rule and white supremacy. It used the threat of paramilitary forces -- IN THE ONLY RECORDED COUP D'ETAT TO OCCUR ON AMERICAN SOIL -- to remove at gunpoint a duly elected city government. Coroner reports confirm nine blacks were killed; though some estimate hundreds died. Scores of others were driven from their homes. Now the historical account of this pivotal event in the history of American race relations is being reprinte! d to mark the centennial anniversary of the Wilmington coup.