Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy

by David Zucchino

The preamble of the “Wilmington Declaration of Independence” said the United States Constitution envisioned a government of enlightened men and “did not contemplate for their descendants a subjection to an inferior race.” After reading the preamble aloud, Waddell recited a list of seven resolutions: One—Because whites in Wilmington paid 95 percent of taxes, they would no longer be ruled by Negroes. Two—Whites would no longer tolerate “the actions of unscrupulous white men in affiliating with the negroes.” Three—“[T]he 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.” Four—“[T]he giving of nearly all the employment to Negro laborers has been against the best interests of this County” and had retarded Wilmington’s economic growth. Five—Most jobs held by blacks were to be handed over to white men. Six—Blacks were to be treated “with justice and consideration” so long as they obeyed “the intelligent and progressive portion of the community.” Seven—The Daily Record would cease publication and its printing press would be shipped out of the city. Alex Manly would be banished from Wilmington as punishment for “publishing an article so vile and slanderous that it would in most communities have resulted in the lynching of the editor.” If Manly obeyed within twelve hours, he would be guaranteed “forbearance on the part of all wh...