The Wilmington Massacre
Summary
This episode details the 1898 Wilmington, North Carolina coup, where an organized white supremacist mob overthrew the city's elected government to suppress Black political power. The hosts discuss the Fusionist Movement, the role of the press in inciting violence, and the subsequent massacre that killed dozens and displaced thousands. They highlight how the event was historically whitewashed as a "race riot" and its lasting impact on disenfranchisement in the South.
Topics discussed
Sponsorship and introduction to the episode
Overview of the 1898 Wilmington coup and its parallels to today
The Fusionist movement and political coalition in the 1890s
Voting rights, ballot design, and the election of Daniel Russell
Life in Wilmington: A multiracial community under Jim Crow
Rising white unrest and the psychological impact of the coup
The White Supremacy Campaign and media manipulation
Editorial response to racial slander and the Daily Record
Sponsor break and transition to the 1898 election
The Red Shirts and organized intimidation tactics
Election fraud and the stolen vote count
The day after: The white supremacist meeting at the courthouse
The declaration and the coerced compliance of black leaders
Sponsor break and the march on the Daily Record
The burning of the Daily Record and the start of the massacre
The massacre: Indiscriminate violence and forced resignations
Casualties, displacement, and the lack of prosecution
Long-term political and demographic consequences
Historical revisionism and the truth of the Wilmington Massacre
Listener mail and closing remarks
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