The Only Successful Coup d’état In American History, The Wilmington Coup, Left A Dark Stain On North Carolina's History

Politics in North Carolina have a long history of unrest and unruliness. For those who closely follow current politics, a look back at an astounding period in the history the Old North State exposes an eye-opening, shameful revelation. For the last 121 years, a massacre in 1898 that was ultimately the result of political strategies within the City of Wilmington was conveniently billed as a race riot – when, in fact, it was a coup. Moreover, it is believed to be the only successful coup d’état in the history of the U.S.

But the most remarkable thing about the Wilmington Coup is how long it took for the truth about that ill-fated day for many North Carolinians to be acknowledged. Scores of African Americans were killed in a bloody massacre (as many as 300 people) and others were escorted or, more accurately, physically chased out of town. What follows is a short summary of what happened and why Wilmington will always have a dark stain looming overhead.

WIkipedia/State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC

Among them, many were freed slaves now holding down paying jobs and earning a good income; some rising to high positions.

Ahead of the 1898 election, the Democratic State Party Chairman developed a campaign strategy for ousting the Republicans and Populists from office. He created a strategy that pivoted on race. He then structured the campaign platform upon the notion of white supremacy.

Wikipedia/MagentaGreen-public domain

The white supremacists plowed through the city with evil destruction in mind. What began as a group of 500, eventually swelled to as many as 2,000.

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The militia was responsible for chasing the majority of African Americans out of Wilmington, either on that day or in the days that followed.

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Members of the nationwide white supremacy terrorist club, called the Red Shirts, went door-to-door, among other methods, to expel any African Americans remaining in town.

Wikipedia/State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC

The speakers at the convention were so convincing, that followers left the convention and began randomly attacking African Americans throughout the state. The actions of the Red Shirts were far reaching, but in Wilmington, their presence and actions will never be forgotten.

Wikimedia Commons/unknown-public domain

On the 121st anniversary of the so-called race riot in Wilmington, on November 10, 2019, the city finally acknowledged there was no race riot, and that the massacre that took place during the Wilmington Coup wasn't a riot initiated by African Americans at all — it was a massacre. The city also moved to stop labeling the incident a 'race riot,' in favor of the more accurate: Wilmington Coup.

For more than a century, history books in schools throughout the Old North State have taught our children a more than slightly skewed version of the events that took place during the Wilmington Coup. What do you remember learning in school about this dark stain on North Carolina’s history?

Keep reading here to discover more insane moments from North Carolina history.