New Book Explores Wilmington's 1898 White Supremacist Coup

A new book by journalist Lauren Collins, titled They Stole a City , delves into the violent overthrow of Wilmington's legally-elected government by white supremacists on November 10, 1898. The coup, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Black residents and the destruction of the city's only Black newspaper, is described as the only successful coup in U.S. history.

Collins highlights the historical context of Wilmington as a prosperous, integrated city before the coup, where Black and white citizens shared political power. The book reveals how local white supremacists orchestrated a campaign to reclaim power, culminating in a violent mob attack that led to the resignation of the city's multi-racial government at gunpoint. Despite the scale of the violence, no one was prosecuted, and the narrative surrounding the events was framed as a defense against a 'race riot.' Collins emphasizes the importance of confronting this history for healing and justice.