Wilmington's Lie

In Wilmington’s Lie, Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Zucchino chronicles the events of 1898 in Wilmington, North Carolina, a thriving mixed-race community facing a violent backlash from white supremacists. Following a provocative editorial by African American newspaper editor Alexander Manly, a coordinated campaign of intimidation and terror unfolded, culminating in a brutal insurrection that saw armed mobs overthrow the city's elected government. Using contemporary sources, Zucchino crafts a gripping narrative of this often-overlooked chapter in American history, revealing the devastating impact on the African American community and the restoration of systemic racism.