FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PBS NORTH CAROLINA ANNOUNCES ‘WILMINGTON 1898 DOCUMENTARY PROJECT’

To air nationally on PBS stations, the film examines how the government of Wilmington, NC, was overthrown by white supremacists in a deadly coup in 1898.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 11/10/2023 — In November 1898, the multiracial government of Wilmington, North Carolina, was overthrown by white supremacists in a deadly massacre and coup d’état. As the city of Wilmington marks 125 years since those harrowing events, PBS North Carolina announces the Wilmington 1898 Documentary Project (working title). With major support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the two-hour documentary is set to debut on PBS stations across the country in Fall 2024. It will also be available for streaming on the free PBS App.

The Wilmington 1898 Documentary Project tells the little-known story in which white supremacists overthrew the multiracial “Fusion” government of the state’s largest city through a coordinated campaign of violence and intimidation that destroyed Black political and economic power and imposed white control. The film combines a detailed investigation of the events of 1898 and their broader historical contexts with an examination of present-day efforts to seek justice and correct the historical record. 

PBS North Carolina’s National Productions Team, led by veteran producer Rachel Raney, is stewarding the Wilmington 1898 Documentary Project with input from an advisory council of experts in the period leading up to 1898, the massacre itself and its aftermath.  

“When we started researching the events of 1898, we quickly uncovered that the Wilmington Race Riot Commission—appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly—had made a list of recommendations in 2006,” says PBS North Carolina’s Rachel Raney. “One of its recommendations was that a documentary film exploring the massacre and coup be produced and distributed, not just locally but nationally. We’re doing just that to ensure that generations of North Carolinians—and all Americans—will not only learn about the tragedy that unfolded in Wilmington, but how it has shaped the history of our state, region and country.” 

Joining the PBS NC team are acclaimed filmmakers Brad Lichtenstein and Yoruba Richen as co-directors of the film, and North Carolina native and Grammy Award-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens, who will contribute music. Deep into production, Richen and Lichtenstein have interviewed scholars and journalists, including David Zucchino, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy. They are also interviewing descendants of those involved in the massacre and coup, white and Black, who are seeking the truth about this long-buried history.  

“By including some of the nation's foremost scholars, journalists, and descendants, we are able to weave together history and current day, and show how the legacy of the 1898 and its violence has shaped our present in numerous significant ways,” says co-director Brad Lichtenstein. 

In June 2023, the Wilmington-based nonprofit Working Films led the filmmaking team, descendants and key community members in a two-day storytelling accountability summit. 

“The summit helped us engage in conversation about working together in a way that honors the stories of 1898 while also providing transparency to the filmmaking process. “says co-director Yoruba Richen. “The meeting provided a path forward for us to bring this story to the world and produce meaningful impact and education around the film.” 

In addition to the film, PBS North Carolina will create a robust collection of curriculum materials and trainings that will provide educators across the state with tools to teach this difficult moment in history in their classrooms. 

In August 2023, PBS North Carolina received a large grant to support the production of Wilmington 1898 Documentary Project from the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

“We’re honored that PBS North Carolina was awarded a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities,” says David Crabtree, CEO of PBS North Carolina. “Receiving this prestigious award to help fund the project is a testament to the integrity of the work.” 

Other significant funding for this project is provided by the Wilmington-based Atlantic Packaging Corporation with additional support from Firelight Films and Black Public Media.  

Production Credits 

The Wilmington 1898 Documentary Project is a PBS North Carolina production in association with 371 Productions. Brad Lichtenstein and Yoruba Richen are co-directors and co-producers. Rachel Raney of PBS North Carolina is the executive producer. 

About 371 Productions 

Brad Lichtenstein founded 371 in 2003 after working in New York as a documentary filmmaker for over a decade, producing and directing for Lumiere Productions, Bill Moyers and Frontline. He has built a company that produces premium content across multiple platforms and prides itself on a commitment to stories that might not otherwise be told while lifting up the voices and careers of women and filmmakers of color. Learn more at 371productions.com. 

About PBS North Carolina 

As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

-PBS NC- 

Media Contact 
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications 
PBS North Carolina 
press@pbsnc.org