American Coup: Wilmington 1898

American Experience, TV's most-watched history series, brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.

Season 36 Episode 7 | 111m 27s | CC

American Coup: Wilmington 1898 tells the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898. 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.

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