The Coalition that Challenged White Supremacy in the Old South
In the 1890s, Black North Carolinians saw an opportunity to “fuse” together with the largely white Populist party for common goals. Enter: the Fusion government.
American Coup: Wilmington 1898
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Watch American Coup: Wilmington 1898 on PBS
A 371 Productions film in association with PBS North Carolina for American Experience
Discover the story of the deadly 1898 race massacre and coup d’état in Wilmington, North Carolina, when white supremacists overthrew the multi-racial government of the state’s largest city through a campaign of violence and intimidation.
Watch American Coup: Wilmington 1898, streaming now online and on the PBS app. Find additional airtimes across PBS NC & the North Carolina Channel on our TV Schedules page.
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Features from American Experience
When White Supremacists Overthrew a Government
A timeline of the events of the Wilmington 1898 coup, drawn from an immersive map created by the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science.
Inside the Bygone World of Wilmington's Black Elite
Beautiful, intimate photographs of a society in the crosshairs of white supremacy.
How to Cover Up a Coup
To understand the erasure of a landmark event in our nation’s history, look to the books.
Our Funders & Partners
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 has been made possible by support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Atlantic Packaging. Additional support comes from the Ford Foundation JustFilms, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Firelight Media, Black Public Media and Andy and Tracy Lowenthal.
Support for complementary education and engagement initiatives provided by the Elizabeth L. Carter Foundation, the Truist Foundation, and North Carolina Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and by Wendy and Michael Brenner, Blanche Williamson, The Robinson-Hill Humanitarian Fund, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and by John and Mary Louise Burress, Leigh Carter, Michael and Kathleen Glancy, Kate Woodbury and an anonymous donor.
Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this film do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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