American Coup: Wilmington 1898

Join the UNCW History Department, History Teaching Alliance, FREED Project, PBS North Carolina, and Working Films for a screening of American Coup: Wilmington 1898, a documentary that tells the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898 — the only coup d’état in the history of the US. This screening is part of a statewide effort to better equip educators to share the story of the massacre, its place in US history, and its lasting impact.

American Coup: Wilmington 1898 shares the story of how self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Black residents were murdered and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.

The screening will include North Carolina 2024 Teacher of the Year, Kim Jones, who will speak to available resources for educators to incorporate 1898 into lesson plans. These resources include standards-aligned curriculum for incorporating the film into the classroom, as well as professional development opportunities for continued support for teachers. Attendees will be provided with documentation for CEUs [Continuing Education Units].  

A discussion & Q&A will also follow the films featuring:

Lynn Mollenauer, UNCW

Whitney Coonradt, Ashley High School

Sean Stanek, Holly Shelter Middle School

Cara Ward, UNCW

Join us for this free screening and discussion to learn more about the massacre and coup, its place in US history, and its lasting impact. Together, we can ensure that the lessons of Wilmington’s past inform conversations around democracy today.

Host or Publisher UNCW