American Coup: Wilmington 1898 (2024)

Voted in. Terrorized out.

American Coup: Wilmington 1898 (2024) poster

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. Stoking fears of 'Negro Rule', 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.

Director: Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen
Genre: Documentary, History
Runtime: 112 min
Release Date:

Screenplay

Music: Rhiannon Giddens
Cinematography: Keith Walker
Editing: Michelle Chang
Production: PBS, 371 Productions, GBH
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Original Language: en

Themes

Resistance Against Racism

Keywords

coup d'etat, insurrection, north carolina, racism, massacre, black history, 19th century, white supremacy, wilmington, 1890s, historical documentary

Trailer

American Coup: Wilmington 1898 Trailer
More Films by Director: Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen
More Films in Genre: Documentary, History

Frequently Asked Questions

What is American Coup: Wilmington 1898 about?
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. Stoking fears of 'Negro Rule', 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.
Who directed American Coup: Wilmington 1898?
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 was directed by Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen.
How long is American Coup: Wilmington 1898?
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 has a runtime of 1h 52m (112 minutes).
What genre is American Coup: Wilmington 1898?
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 is a Documentary, History film.
Where was American Coup: Wilmington 1898 produced?
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 was produced in United States of America.
What are the themes of American Coup: Wilmington 1898?
The themes of American Coup: Wilmington 1898 include: Resistance Against Racism.