American Experience show's poster

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.

RMPBS Passport

Please log in to your PBS Passport account to watch this video

Become a Member

American Coup: Wilmington 1898

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.

American Experience

Watch more episodes

See more
See more
Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.