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

 

Here is a chapter-wise summary of the book Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino:

Chapter 1: The Rise of Black Power

In the first chapter, Zucchino introduces the reader to Wilmington, North Carolina, in the late 19th century. Wilmington was a thriving city with a large and prosperous black population. Black people held elected office, owned businesses, and sent their children to school.

Chapter 2: The White Backlash

In the second chapter, Zucchino describes the rise of white supremacy in the South in the late 19th century. White supremacists believed that black people were inferior to white people and that they should not have the same rights as white people. They used violence and intimidation to suppress black voting and political power.

Chapter 3: The Election of 1898

In the third chapter, Zucchino tells the story of the 1898 election in Wilmington. The election was a contest between a biracial Fusionist coalition and a white Democratic Party. The Fusionists won the election, and the white Democrats were furious.

Chapter 4: The Coup

In the fourth chapter, Zucchino describes the coup that took place in Wilmington on November 10, 1898. White supremacists, led by Alfred Waddell, took control of the city and forced the Fusionist government to resign. They also killed dozens of black people and burned down black businesses and homes.

Chapter 5: The Aftermath

In the fifth chapter, Zucchino describes the aftermath of the coup. The white Democrats established a new government in Wilmington that was dominated by white supremacists. Black people were effectively disenfranchised, and they lost much of the political and economic power they had gained in the late 19th century.

Chapter 6: The Legacy

In the sixth chapter, Zucchino discusses the legacy of the Wilmington coup. The coup was a major setback for black progress in the South. It also helped to pave the way for the Jim Crow era, a period of segregation and discrimination that lasted for decades.

Conclusion

Wilmington’s Lie is a powerful and important book that tells the story of a forgotten chapter in American history. Zucchino’s book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of race and racism in the United States.