American Coup: Wilmington 1898 Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Tuesday, September 16, 2025, from 7-9 p.m.
Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (559 West King Street, Boone, NC 28607)
BOONE, N.C. — AppDocs and Appalachian State University’s Department of History, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Department of Sociology, in partnership with PBS North Carolina and Working Films, invite community members to a screening of American Coup: Wilmington 1898. The film shares the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina's largest city, Wilmington, in 1898. The screening is part of a statewide effort to share the story of the massacre, its place in U.S. history, and its lasting impact. The screening will take place on September 16 at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (559 West King Street in Boone) at 7 p.m.
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 documents this story, which was the only successful 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.
“American Coup: Wilmington 1898 is a cautionary tale about a breakdown of a cornerstone of our democracy: fair and free elections,” says Rachel Raney, PBS North Carolina’s Director of National Productions and co-executive producer of the film. “When we started researching these events in Wilmington, we quickly discovered that many North Carolinians are not aware of this important history, in part because it was intentionally buried. The more we learned, the more it became clear that all Americans need to know what happened.”
The American Coup: Wilmington 1898 screening and discussion will run from 7 to 9 p.m. Dr. Kristen Baldwin Deathridge, associate professor in App State's Department of History, will moderate the post-screening panel discussion. Panelists include Reverend Sean Hasker Palmer from the YMI Cultural Center in Asheville and Dr. Karl Campbell, professor in App State's Department of History.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit apptheatre.org/events-and-tickets/american-coup.
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About the Department of History
The Department of History offers a broad curriculum in local, national, regional and world history at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, which encourages history majors to develop a comprehensive approach to human problems. The study of history is an essential part of a liberal arts education and offers valuable preparation for many careers, such as law, journalism, public history, public service and business, as well as in teaching and the advanced discipline of history. Learn more at history.appstate.edu.
About the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in four program areas: Appalachian studies; gender, women’s and sexuality studies; global studies; and interdisciplinary studies. The department is also home to Watauga Residential College, an interdisciplinary, alternative general education program. The department promotes creative and imaginative engagement through a cross-disciplinary investigation of complex systems and problems. Learn more at interdisciplinary.appstate.edu.
About the Department of Sociology
The Department of Sociology offers a Bachelor of Arts and seven Bachelor of Science concentrations (applied research methods; criminology; families and intimate relationships; health and aging; power and social change; social inequalities; and individually designed, which requires departmental approval). The department also offers minors in sociology and health and aging, plus two online graduate certificates: aging, health and society, and sociology. Learn more at soc.appstate.edu.
About PBS North Carolina
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. Learn more at pbsnc.org.
About Working Films
Founded in 1999, Working Films is a national nonprofit organization based in North Carolina that leverages the power of documentary films to advance social justice and environmental protection. Learn more at workingfilms.org.
American Coup: Wilmington 1898
American Coup: Wilmington 1898