Wilmington Massacre

Date: November 10, 1898 • Location: Washington, United States

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 1898.

White supremacists seized power and massacred black Americans during the Wilmington massacre,(newspaper headline depicted) the only instance of a municipal government being overthrown in United States history.

White supremacy is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White supremacy has roots in the now-discredited doctrine of scientific racism and was a key justification for European colonialism.