Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino

Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy, written by David Zucchino, tells the story of one of the worst racist episodes in American history. In 1898, a militia of 2,000 armed white supremacists overthrew the elected government of Wilmington, North Carolina. The overthrow began with a series of lies—that African Americans were raping white women, that white voters were being intimidated by African American citizens, and that the mayor and leader of the black population were corrupt. The lies and the resulting massacre of African Americans in the streets caused some 300 African American citizens to be exiled from the city, with some never to be seen again.

David Zucchino tells the untold story of this coup and the resulting dominance of white supremacy in Wilmington. He recounts the events leading up to the coup and its immediate aftermath, as well as its long-term implications. Zucchino paints a vivid portrait of Wilmington in 1898, with its African American residents who, despite their recently-gained civil rights and status, still endured the intense racial prejudice of their white neighbors.

Wilmington’s Lie is not just a tale of tragedy, of white supremacists manipulating the system to regain control through lies and violence. Zucchino also shows how the African American residents of Wilmington, led by their mayor Alfred Moore Waddell, refused to be intimidated or oppressed. Waddell, a lawyer and prominent African American politician in the city, tirelessly worked to protect the rights of African American citizens despite the threats of white supremacists.

The implications of the failed coup of 1898 still resonate in contemporary politics. Zucchino’s book shows how white supremacists propagated violent racial beliefs and practices in Wilmington, ultimately leading to a culture of racial prejudice and discrimination that has lasted into the present day. He also explores the ways in which the coup and its aftermath led to a resurgence of segregation. Zucchino details how Wilmington’s city government, led by the same white supremacists that had overthrown the African American government in 1898, implemented segregation across Wilmington and dismantled any remaining attempts by African American citizens to have a voice in their government.

Wilmington’s Lie is a powerful and compelling narrative that sheds light on one of the worst racial atrocities in U.S. history. Zucchino’s narrative provides valuable insight into the events of 1898, as well as their long-term implications. By bringing to light the forgotten history of the Wilmington coup, he opens up the conversation around the power of white supremacy in U.S. politics and how it continues to affect politics today. Zucchino’s story is a must-read for anyone seeking to gain a better understanding of the rise of white supremacy in America.