Film Screening & Discussion: American Coup: Wilmington 1898

This powerful documentary uncovers the little-known story of a deadly white supremacist massacre of Black residents and the carefully orchestrated insurrection that took place in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1898 — the only successful coup d’état in United States history.

American Coup: Wilmington 1898 reveals how self-declared white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically elected, multiracial government. Dozens of Black residents were killed, thousands were forced to flee, and the true story was buried for generations until descendants and scholars began to uncover it. Today, many of those descendants — both Black and white — continue seeking the truth about this intentionally suppressed history.

We invite you to join us for this free film screening and discussion to learn about the Wilmington massacre and coup, its place in U.S. history, and its ongoing legacy. Together, we can ensure that the lessons of Wilmington’s past shape how we understand and protect democracy today.

A discussion will follow the film.