The 1898 Wilmington Coup, also known as the Wilmington Massacre, was a violent and racially motivated insurrection that took place in Wilmington, North Carolina, on November 10, 1898. This event was a turning point in the history of race relations in the United States, as it led to the [[disenfranchisement]] of African Americans and the implementation of [[Jim Crow]] laws in the South. The coup was orchestrated by white supremacists who opposed the multiracial government of Wilmington, which was then the largest city in North Carolina. At the time, the city had a majority Black population and was governed by a coalition of white and Black Republicans and Populists. The city's racially diverse government was a direct challenge to white supremacists' notions of racial hierarchy and control. In the lead-up to the coup, white supremacist leaders used newspapers and other forms of media to spread [propaganda](https://doctorparadox.net/dictionaries/authoritarianism/propaganda/) and incite racial hatred. They also formed a paramilitary organization called the "Red Shirts" to intimidate Black voters and suppress their political participation. On November 10, 1898, a mob of armed white men, led by prominent white supremacist leaders, marched on the city's armory and seized control of the local government. During the coup, dozens of African Americans were killed, and many more were injured or forced to flee the city. The coup leaders then installed a new, all-white government in Wilmington and imposed a set of discriminatory laws and policies that effectively disenfranchised black citizens and established a system of racial [[segregation]]. The events in Wilmington marked the end of the brief period of increased political power and [[civil rights]] for African Americans during the [[Reconstruction]] era. The coup served as a powerful example for adherents of [[white supremacy]] in other Southern states, who followed suit by implementing similar measures to [[disenfranchise]] Black voters and establish [[Jim Crow]] laws. The 1898 Wilmington Coup is a critical chapter in American history, as it highlights the deep-seated [racism](https://doctorparadox.net/category/psychology/racism/) and violence that shaped race relations in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its legacy continues to impact the nation's ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality.