For yet another reminder of the historic impact of this year’s election, consider this:
The only coup d’etat in the nation’s history occurred 110 years ago today in Wilmington, when a violent mob of white supremacists angry over election results killed 22 African Americans, forced the mayor and city government to resign, and burned down a black newspaper. On that day, a thriving, integrated, majority-black city became a flash point for the beginning of the Jim Crow era.
Today, North Carolina is a blue state that voted for a black president. No angry mobs in sight.
To commemorate the day, Wilmington’s Star-News has this series on race and religion in the port city.
