A00349 - Must See TV for the Month of November 2024: American Experience: American Coup: Wilmington 1898

 

Last night I watched the American Experience episode entitled American Coup: Wilmington 1898

American Experience | American Coup: Wilmington 1898 | Season 36 | Episode 7 | PBS

As a student of Black History, I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the injustice perpetrated in 1898 and by the general later acceptance of the major perpetrators of the injustice into the mainstream of society not just in North Carolina but also in the corridors of power in Washington, D. C.

For those who get PBS or those who are members of Amazon Prime, I recommend "American Coup: Wilmington 1898", I also recommend reading about the Coup at the following links:  

America’s Only Successful Coup d’Etat Overthrew a Biracial Government in 1898 | HISTORY

Wilmington coup 1898 | History & Facts | Britannica

Wilmington massacre - Wikipedia

This tragic piece of American history was long buried by the prevailing political forces. I wonder if over time it will be buried again.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

Fairfield, California

November 17, 2024

P.S. Below is the White Declaration of Independence issued by the perpetrators of the 1898 Wilmington Coup.  I suspect that many of the grievances asserted by the perpetrators resonate in this country still.

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Believing that the Constitution of the United States contemplated a government to be carried on by an enlightened people; believing that its framers did not anticipate the enfranchisement of an ignorant population of African origin, and believing that those men of the state of North Carolina, who joined in framing the union did not contemplate for their descendants subjection to an inferior race.

We the undersigned citizens of the city of Wilmington and county of New Hanover, do hereby declare that we will no longer be ruled and will never again be ruled, by men of African origin.

This condition we have in part endured because we felt that the consequences of the war of secession were such as to deprive us of the fair consideration of many of our countrymen.

While we recognize the authority of the United States and will yield to it if exerted, we would not for a moment believe that it is the purpose of 60 million of our own race to subject us permanently to a fate to which no Anglo-Saxon has ever been forced to submit.

We, therefore, believing that we represent unequivocally the sentiments of the white people of this county and city, hereby for ourselves, and as representatives of them, proclaim:

1. That the time has come for the intelligent citizens of this community owning 95 percent of the property and paying taxes in proportion, to end the rule by Negroes.
2. That we will not tolerate the action of unscrupulous white men in affiliating with the Negroes so that by means of their vote they can dominate the intelligent and thrifty element in the community, thus causing business to stagnate and progress to be out of the question.
3. That the Negro has demonstrated by antagonizing our interests in every way, and especially by his ballot, that he is incapable of realizing that his interests are and should be identical with those of the community.
4. That the progressive element in any community is the white population and that the giving of nearly all the employment to Negro laborers has been against the best interests of this county and city, and is sufficient reason why the city of Wilmington, with its natural advantages, has not become a city of at least 50,000 inhabitants.
5. That we propose in the future to give to white men a large part of the employment heretofore given to Negroes because we realize that white families cannot thrive here unless there are more opportunities for employment of the different members of their families.
6. That we white men expect to live in this community peaceably; to have and provide absolute protection for our families, who shall be safe from insult or injury from all persons, whomsoever. We are prepared to treat the Negroes with justice in all matters which do not involve sacrifice of the intelligent and progressive portion of the community. But are equally prepared now and immediately to enforce what we know to be our rights.
7. That we have been, in our desire for harmony and peace, blinded both to our interests and our rights. A climax was reached when the Negro paper of this city published an article so vile and slanderous that it would in most communities have resulted in a lynching [referring to Alexander Manly's editorial in The Wilmington Daily Report], and yet there is no punishment, provided by the courts, adequate for the offense. We, therefore, owe it to the people of this community and city, as protection against such license in the future, that "The Record" cease to be published and that its editor [i.e., Manly] be banished from this community.
8. We demand that he leave the city forever within 24 hours after the issuance of this Proclamation. Second, that the printing press from which "The Record" has been issued be shipped from the city without delay; that we be notified within 12 hours of the acceptance or rejection of this demand.

If the demand is agreed to, we counsel forbearance on the part of the white men. If the demand is refused or no answer is given within the time mentioned, then the editor, Manly, will be expelled by force.^[17][88]