American Coup: Wilmington 1898
“Voted in. Terrorized out.”
Synopsis
The little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898 — the only coup d’état in the history of the US. Stoking fears of 'Negro Rule', self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Black residents were murdered and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Trailer | AMERICAN COUP: WILMINGTON 1898 | AMERICAN EXPERIENCE | PBSOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-10-18
Release History & Theatrical Window
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 12, 2024
VOD & Digital Platforms
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen
- Screenplay & Story
- Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen, Peter Miller
- Original Score
- Rhiannon Giddens
- Original Title
- American Coup: Wilmington 1898
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Studios
- PBS, 371 Productions, GBH
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen
Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen, Peter Miller
Rhiannon Giddens
Keith Walker
Michelle Chang
Cameo George, Rachel Raney, Artemis Fannin, Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen
Department Leadership Roster
Brad Lichtenstein
Director
Yoruba Richen
Director
Artemis Fannin
Producer
Brad Lichtenstein
Producer
Yoruba Richen
Producer
Brad Lichtenstein
Writer
Yoruba Richen
Writer
Peter Miller
Writer
Michelle Chang
Editor
Keith Walker
Director of Photography
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for American Coup: Wilmington 1898.
Similar Titles to American Coup: Wilmington 1898
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.5
7.3
7.1
8.0
6.8
7.3
5.8
7.9![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 2 3"%3E%3Crect width="2" height="3" fill="%23161922"/%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Pelley
6.8
7.6
6.9
More Like American Coup: Wilmington 1898
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About American Coup: Wilmington 1898
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is American Coup: Wilmington 1898 about?
The little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898 — the only coup d’état in the history of the US. Stoking fears of 'Negro Rule', self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Black residents were murdered and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.
Who directed American Coup: Wilmington 1898?
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 was directed by Brad Lichtenstein, Yoruba Richen.
Who stars in American Coup: Wilmington 1898?
The principal cast of American Coup: Wilmington 1898 includes Not specified.
When was American Coup: Wilmington 1898 released and how long is it?
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 was released in 2024 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
Who composed the musical score for American Coup: Wilmington 1898?
The original motion picture soundtrack for American Coup: Wilmington 1898 was composed by Rhiannon Giddens.