I'm a US History teacher. Thanks for publishing this, PBS. I've incorporated it into my current lesson plans. It's something my students NEED to see...
@@janetwatson7966 With knowledge and understanding comes calm. Slavery is slavery, no matter the color. It's all bad. The white man was persecuted for standing against it. You're welcome.
Hated having to memorize events (battles, elections, etc.) in history classes… stuff that could easily be found in encyclopedias (ya I’m old "af") or now online. Your students are lucky to have someone recognize the importance of HOW people lived and were treated.
@sadiebowman2682 Thank you for caring enough about your students to teach them the truth, especially in these turbulent times and no matter how "inconvenient" that may be to some. I have no doubt that your students will speak of you fondly in years to come and be grateful for your honesty and dedication to their education (I know that I feel that way about the teachers who went above and beyond for me) 💖👍
@@jengsci8268This! Well said! I'm half English, half Irish. On my Irish side, I had family who were indentured. On my English side, I had family who died of starvation because they joined with other mill workers and refused to process cotton that had been produced by slaves, in protest against the practice of slavery. The word even comes from the "slavs", indentured peasants in Eastern Europe and modern-day Russia, so the history is long and varied, across multiple cultures and all of it is awful. However, NONE of that takes away from the horrific atrocities suffered as a result of the transatlantic slave trade by Africans and people of African descent. All slavery is unforgivable. Although I do think that the continued racism (especially the Jim Crow laws) that continued long after abolition in the US, arguably until the present day, is not going to go away until it is addressed. The fact that the US still has people who long for a return to that era, openly, is terrifying - and so I think that there is a strong argument that the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade is far more pervasive and destructive in the present day, than other forms of slavery.
It isn't understood because it isn't taught. And now we have Oklahoma pushing bibles down children's throats. It seems that the only thing being taught to these youngsters is a warped version of just one religion. No History, no Science, no Social Science. Is it any wonder that Oklahoma lies 49th in the education league tables? We're raising a nation of ignorant and ill informed youngsters but this suits the Republicans just fine as intelligent and well informed citizens would be less likely to vote for their lies.
and now the opposite is happening and whyte people are been targeted by racism we must all stand up against this disease against whoever is responsible from either side
I grew up in Idaho five generations. We were far away from these issues not having black people. But in the 1930's my grandfather a Swede visited Louisisana to see his brother that moved there. On a bus a black man got on and my sweet grandfather scooted over to offer him a seat. A tap on the shoulder from behind, a man said, "We don't do that down here." My grandpa experienced his first brush with segregation and racism. During his stay he was shocked to find segregated facilities everywhere. When he got back to Idaho, he told everyone what he experienced. Being a Christian and sweet man that experiene stuck with him his entire life.
@@luckylogger7594My dad was passing through the south back in the 50s or 60s. He opened the door for a black lady. She looked at him funny. The white cashier asked “Are you a Jew from New York?” “Yes.” “We don’t do that here.” That must be the universal southern response to treating another person the way you want to be treated.
@@ferretyluvYES even in the '80s. I moved from Chicago to NC. I began dating a coworker, we had lunch together. One of the old lady managers lectured me on how "It's just not done." I was 18, I thought she meant she didn't want her cashiers dating the stockboys. When it hit me it was because he was black, I was SO angry. He was used to it, which broke my heart 😢 Never forget the free lessons life gives us
History was taught (largely still) as battle dates & generals and presidents. Crap easily found online & in textbooks. THIS is more meaningful (& useful & interesting) history.
First we must know our history. Second, and this is the hard part, is to recognize when our country is repeating the same mistakes we made in the past so we can prevent them from occurring again.
Of course it should be but it’s difficult to teach closed minds. To make matters worse, racists have made it impossible to cover any Black history. Just as many did as far as learning reading and writing, the Black community will have to teach their history themselves AND include any white friends and family who express an interest in learning. Otherwise your voices will be drowned out.
"The day will come when Americans will realize that a government that will not protect its citizens cannot demand protection for itself." ~ Black Chronicle, June 1st, 1896.
I'm grateful that this video landed on my home page today! In today's climate, this story and the beautiful images of these proud, dignified, and beautiful people unexpectedly brought me to tears. Thank you for this project, PBS! 💝
Such distinguished images. We really should all be taking such images again. A portrait. Get dressed up, do your hair, take a photo, and put that photo up on our walls. It's a beautiful statement.
They still do, and i agree i hope it becomes popular again!! 20 something years ago in my childhood we went a few times as a family to a photo studio to get professional pictures taken, but nowadays since everyone's got a camera in their pocket they seem to forget just how different a true professional portrait is from a casual phone selfie etc. But there's still many photo studios out there, and i hope to see more and more people visiting them!
As long as I live, I will never understand how people can hate to the point of lynching innocent people and CHEER for it. Absolutely revolting. And these same people are also followers of christ? Truly disgusting. Thank you for sharing this, PBS! ❤
I agree, however true followers of Christ know that Christs tells us to love one another as Christ has loved them. It doesn’t say, “Love one another only if they are the same color as you.” Those people were not true followers of Christ.
@@harlanbarnhart4656 They may say that they are following Christ, but either they’ve never read the entire Bible, or they are picking and choosing the verses they like and ignoring the rest.
Love old photos and many have hidden significance....not just the capturing of a moment in time. As a Brit I find these little acts of defiance, bravery or 'up yours' sentiments, in photos taken around the world, so wonderful. Thank ou forthe video. 😊
Wow. I’m 45 and learned something new today. I had no idea the power these old photographs actually held! In these cases a picture is definitely worth more than a thousand words!
Thank you, PBS, for still teaching ACTUAL history when America wants to rewrite it or act like it didn't happen. I've been watching since I was a kid and I'm glad I can still watch and be secure that I'm learning. Also, when people want to know why America is the way it is when it comes to race and "division"... this video shines a bit of light on it. Learn your history!
“The best revenge is NOT to be like your enemy” (Marcus Aurelius). I would add …and to NOT be like their stereotype. Be better. Live better. Rise, in spite of all efforts to wrongly define and deny you. This was the pattern of my elders and ancestors, and I have always strived to follow their example. Thank you, PBS, for highlighting our resilience and how far we have come (and could go), together. 🤍
As a photographer, it was always a joy to capture a families love for one another & I've felt that being the photographer I captured their history in a single moment in time.
Unfortunately, it's the way we evolved. If you KNOW that, you can resist acting like this. But unfortunately there is little introspection in the type of people who commit atrocities like this. We can see it happening right now. They are creating scapegoats as a way to manipulate people, and the people being manipulated don't even realize that they have had a harness and bit put on THEM, and they go where their masters tell them. I guess it's lack of education. But I don't really know why they yearn for the harness.
@@This-Is-My-Little-Corner Then why post? You could have complete anonymity by remaining silent. Once you post you invite comment. Unless of course you want the attention but not to hear dissenting views.
The family portraits are so beautiful, not just in the sense of composition but the joy and strength in their faces. The beauty of the fact that these families could stay together and be there for one another after a horrific history of being denied that support.
"Freedom of speech" if you say, what the rich people in charge also want to hear. 🤦♀ Thanks for sharing this story! It seems such a shame, people are so cruel to eachother. :(
If you haven't watched the full documentary yet, AMERICAN COUP: WILMINGTON 1898 is streaming free on our website and the PBS App: www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/american-coup-wilmington-1898/
I love this video! Not what they teach in school. The portraits are beautiful and empowering. I know this country STILL has a long way to go and in this time it’s an uphill battle. Thank you for this video!
I'm sure there are many stories like that, but get swept under the rug. Knowing others that are speaking out against this, might enable/encourage more to do it. We have seen (recently) this happen, empowering people to be racist, sexist, hateful out loud and proud created a movement. Couldn't have that happen. Heaven forbid all people aren't any of those things and actually got along despite their race, gender, etc. No division? Ghastly! /s
I live in Greensboro, NC. In the aftermath of the Civil War, we had to face the terrible reality of what to do with the bodies of the Union soldiers that had passed away on our soil. Something that MANY people might not be aware of today, but in those olden days everything was segregated. Not just our areas where people lived in the town, shopped for their household goods and worshiped. Oh no, even when you died they buried you in segregated cemeteries! And of course you were treated in segregated hospitals as well! The people decided that these dead invaders would not be buried with the other Caucasian people in the white cemetery in town. So they were rounded up and carted over to the African American side of town and even today you can visit the Union cemetery. Greensboro, NC has quite a number of significant Civil rights moments that we have contributed to the history. I only hope that we can continue to look forward with better understanding about how all people deserve opportunities and equality. Warmest regards from Greensboro, NC, USA.
@stephaniemerlin1 You're so welcome Stephanie! We still have a long way to go in order to heal our broken relationships with our racial past. But, only by facing what was done, together with a firm resolution that we must do better for ALL people can we make a brighter future where we all can be friends, colleagues and partners. I graduated from a Historically Black University in 1984 here in Elizabeth City NC and in order to help desegregate it I was given Minority Presence Scholarship money as part of my financial aid assistance. Later on, here in Greensboro, NC I worked as a Prospect Researcher evaluating wealthy individuals, corporations and foundations in the Development office on a $100 million dollars campaign at the largest black university in the nation over 5 years. These universities are known as HBCUs. I like to think of myself as HBCU through and through!
Thank you for sharing that bit of your city's history. It reminds me of the pejoratives "white trash" and calling men a female dog: in both cases, people using the terms are diminishing the people they insult further in ways that show their biases: "white trash" people aren't "normal" or "regular" or "everyday" trash people -- they're below other assumed trash people by virtue of being specified -- and likewise, men called female dogs are worse than dogs, lower than dogs, for being called female ones specifically. For the people who made the decision to bury all Union soldiers in the local African American cemeteries, regardless of the race of the deceased, that must've been the strongest insult they could think of: that in death, these soldiers weren't "worthy" of being buried in their white cemeteries. 🙄 Meanwhile, knowing how disgusting humans can be and have been historically, I was incredibly relieved to hear that they buried "enemy" soldiers in cemeteries at all instead of burning them in pyres, etc. Ultimately seems like the local African American community took the brunt of this decision (not uncommon, I assume) in having lost valuable cemetery space and in having to either upkeep the graves of people no one knew or let that part of the community's cemetery fall into disrepair and become an eyesore.
I find it remarkable that as a Scot, and going to school in 70's & early 80's, I learned more about your history regarding slavery and civil rights than any US kids do now. What's happening now reminds me of this... In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose “ - the more things change, the more they stay the same… I wish people could just learn we are all human, we are all the same species. You don't see felines or canines fighting because they are different colours, sizes, shapes. Territory yes, I guess that rings true.... 😢 ❤
Go tell your people that..they are the ones that reject that type of thinking..we don't have to get in a circle and sing cumbaya..that will never happen..and that's okay..
We do teach African American studies in our schools and there's a whole month dedicated to it. We don't know every story about African Americans just like we don't know everything about Italian americans, irish-americans, etc. I am not comparing their journeys, I'm just saying there is always much to know about history and always stories to be shared. Unfortunately, it's a very divisive subject and from my opinion, some people will never be happy, no matter what you do. We can't change the past and they weren't slaves.
@@nooneyouknow5516Who wasn’t slaves? The man in the story wasn’t. He was a hard working businessman who had his business burned by ignorant racist white people. He didn’t have to be a slave for their ignorance to affect him deeply.
I am a native Wilmingtonian, many generations back. No one in my family, nor I, had ever heard of the 1898 Coup until the 1990's. That the 1898 Coup was never taught in schools is a travesty that was foisted upon us by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, who had absolute veto rights over the history books used in the state of North Carolina.
We have come SOOOO far in this beautiful country. We can’t go back! We have fought so hard for every right we have. This belongs in history books, not current events.
Thank you PBS. I did not know of this story in history. Now that I am aware, I will do everything in my power to see that no bully, or group of bullies, does harm to a fellow American again.
Many people today want to return to this kind of era. Think about that fact. You can spot them easily, flying the flags of the Confederacy and the Third Reich.
@@auntlizzy1308 Haven't seen them? You must be in Russia, or maybe China or some other authoritarian led country. Here in the United States, people are free to show off their stupidity. (smh)
@@auntlizzy1308 - You're just not looking at photos from the far-right rallies where they wave it. But then, it depends on where you get your news. For example, Fox likes to downplay it.
@@auntlizzy1308Texas. I would pass farms with the flags up and look up the different confederate flags they were flying. Some dork was flying a confederate flag for a particular battle that didn’t even last a full day. Depeche Mode has a greater legacy. I imagine it’s just as prevalent in other states. You’re just fortunate enough to not be in those areas.
Amazing and how powerful the Amercian black experience was and is. God's hands, God's hands. The history of killing, stealing, and.destroying is an act of pure evil. It still exists today in other ways that parade around as other things yet racism written all over it
Absolutely! We are told there isn't any racism anymore. What a joke! Thank you PBS! Caucasians try to paint a picture of unity! This should be taught in schools. Black children can see what their ancestors were put through. Their ancestors were brave, hardworking and intelligent.
@@RevLeigh55 Surely you understand that public/private schools (meaning formal education) cannot possibly teach all of history. If you want to do something for your granchildren, take them to public libraries every week, and teach them to respect books, and read, read, read.
@@shawnaweesner3759not all Americans voted for Trump. And yet the mantra by MAGA coursing through the narrative is the ENTIRE country has spoken in the most recent election.
450 signatures. People who wanted you to know and have proof of their ambitions. . I almost sure that the scariest animal roaming this earth is the human being.
Thank you PBS for sharing, I didn't know it. I love hearing stories of heroes, people who spoke up against injustices, people who helped others through that even risking their own lives. I hear stories like this and many from WWII, I just wish they were all written in some book because these stories should be told and these heroes should be the role model for kids not celebrities.
It makes me sick what this country has done. 😔 The spirit of the people we enslaved must infuriate the racists who STILL try to destroy them. What a world….
That isn't accurate. If you think that every corner of the world hasn't been touched by it throughout all history, then you need to study more history. And it is a lie to say our country is racist and trying to destroy them.
There's a lot of heros that've fought for the advancement of humanity of all colors. This man should be remembered for being a brave soul in the middle of a dark wilderness to help his less fortunate fellowman, even at a risk to his own life.
Hate and attacks cause people to thrive, as in deciding to live. Christians, Jews, black Americans and so on. So good for them! Thank you PBS for telling this story, powerful history in less that 3 minutes.
Unfortunately, the racism of Wilmington a century ago is alive & well not only in the USA but in Israel as well & our US tax dollars fund it in both countries😣 Thank you PBS for important programs such as this one!
This is timely as we face racism more pronounced than has been since the civil rights movement. It’s unfortunate to believe we have been drug back that period of time. The fact is one man is responsible for the division we see today. His rhetoric is of an old white man that has been rooted in by his father before him. Through my life I would say when this generation of people expire then we can live in peace but then just under the surface there are more. He gave them the platform to be racists. I’m throughly disgusted by the way people treat each other.
I've read that the old white man's father was arrested at a big Klan rally in NYC, although the charges were subsequently dropped. There's also the history of the old white man and his Dad buying a building and evicting all the non-white tenants. They got fined for that, but it didn't help the people who were evicted. Toxic man, toxic family, toxic people who own him.
The one man responsible for the division we see today is Obama. I was surprised to see he made black colleges request federal assistance every year. But Trump changed that. Trump is good for the black people. He has done more good for them than any president since Lincoln.
Yes, I agree. Biden has been extremely divisive and it started with Obama. The rhetoric and racism of the Left have tried to bring us back there, and we have no part in it. Get off of CNN and go read. What you have been sold is a lie.
I’m afraid it’s not just one man. He brought that vicious racism (among other things) out into the public arena, but it was there all along. Not even under the surface, just not visible in public. We have a long way to go… and there are many crucial battlegrounds. One place to start is convincing non-voters to vote, and another is making sure that school boards don’t remove books or approve racist curricula.
What about the race riot in Oklahoma around the same time that destroyed a thriving Black neighborhood. They even had airplanes bombing the place. Thousands were killed and dumped in mass graves. The neighborhood was burned to the ground. The survivors have been refused compensation by the courts to this day.
Exactly..their reply is always, forget the past, it was a long time ago, we are all human beings..we ain't forgetting 💩! Especially when they haven't repented, or paid what is OWED...we will never forget, I will never forgive..
"After all, democracy takes place when the silenced find a voice, and when we begin to listen to what they have to say." ~ Lani Guinier (1950-2022), Brilliant American Civil Rights theorist and professor. She was the recipient of many fellowships. She was by then nominated for the department of Attorney Generals Civil Rights division by then President Clinton, but despite her qualifications, she was rejected because the majority were afraid of her clarity of her beliefs, experience, and intelligence. Lani Guinier was also gay. Her voice was silenced.
@@betenoireindustries 🤣 From someone who no doubt thinks that little boys can somehow be transubstantiated into little girls because of their emotional “fee-fees.”
@@Sndyj457 Did I say that was the overarching statement of the entire video?? No. I said merely that I liked his final comment. I made no remark indicating my stance on the remainder.
The way I see it ... this is a powerful statement by people who made their homes, families and communities in this land, that THEREFORE it is their land, no matter if living there means enduring conditions of oppression. The powerful white people would like to say it is not their land: that they can only live there on sufferance, that they can make no decisions about what to do, how to work, where to go; that if the powerful should decree it, they must depart, either out of sight or into the ground. But no! My country.... of thee I sing. That is a statement which does not say, I want to be part of the country as the powerful define it; rather, it says, that definition is wrong, this country is one which is also MINE.
I grew up in the 60’s in a small town in Southern Canada, not far from the border with Washington state. I would guess that it was about 90% white European, some Indian families, some Asian families and, from what I can remember, one black family. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable that must have been. Not totally open racism for the most part but not well hidden.
These people are beautiful and dignified. It is also so amazing...I recognise the faces of people I know (i.e: people of today who ressemble them very much). I nearly cried. Thank you so much. xx
With bounties on their heads, 1830’s Canadian ‘Conductors’ (Harriet Tubman) smuggled over 30,000 slaves into Canada - they were given freedom and 10 acres in Ontario. Canada saw the First black publisher. First Black Doctor who graduated from the University of Toronto, then returned to the US to care for Lincoln’s black soldiers on the battlefield. When Lincoln lay dying, he asked for the black surgeon to be by his side. Our $20 Bill proudly shows Harriet’s photo and she was posthumously awarded rank of General. 🫶🏼🇨🇦 Visit our museums in and around Chatham Ontario.
What an incredible story. Thank goodness PBS reminds us how resilient even those who are oppressed can be when we come together to resist that oppression and thrive inspite of it.
Born in 68, graduated mid-80s. Grew up in Northern New Hampshire and thought that racism and bigotry and white supremacy have been overcome in the 60s with the Civil Rights Movement. Eventually I move to Texas in my 30s and I learned differently. Then my biracial pal from high school told me that he had been the subject of racism during school. I was shocked and dismayed and discouraged. Sometimes it seems like things are only slightly better, only in the glare of public scrutiny. I wonder if we will ever move beyond it?
Patriotism isn't a noun, it is a verb, an action word. Despite his life being threatened and his lively hood being taken away, he still chose to see this country as a place to grow and live and raise a family. True patriots are the ones who fight for a country even though the majority of its citizens want you dead. Black Americans are true patriots. They fought and still fight for a country that wants to delete them. They fight to make the country better for everyone. Because, if it is holding up the rights for them, then it is holding up the rights for everyone. Screaming and shouting that you are a patriot only means you know how to say the word really loud. It does not mean you are what you profess to be. Screaming doesn't mean you love something, it means you have strong lungs. Patriotism: love for one's country that is shown through personal identification and concern for the well-being of one's country. This is shown through the willingness to sacrifice for the overall good and progression of one's country. Stating this fact does not take away from anyone else. It recognizes that not one group has a stronghold on something. Black people fought in every war in this country and for this country. Patriotism at its finest.
I first heard about this and the horrific massacre of the Black community in the county at the EJI in Montgomery, AL. As a North Carolinian from the opposite end of the state, I am so sorry this was allowed to happen.
I never heard of this man, but God bless him 🙏🙏!!! We ALL deserve to be treated like human beings because we are all one human race under God!!!! Besides slavery being awful, anti-Semitism and other forms of evil bigotry are beyond being profoundly sad because it shows children when adults forget that they have a conscience!!! We need to be the United States of America with the emphasis on United because America is a spirit in which we need to see we are one big human race!!!
In an antique store I once encountered a collection of death portraits- pictures taken of people after they died. I was surprised by the large number of black people dressed in finery and the shop owner explained much the same thing. photos were expensive and they were making a statement of how they had become successful enough to do this.
I'm a US History teacher. Thanks for publishing this, PBS. I've incorporated it into my current lesson plans. It's something my students NEED to see...
Is CRT incorporated into your lesson plans? I hope so 🙂
@@janetwatson7966 With knowledge and understanding comes calm. Slavery is slavery, no matter the color. It's all bad. The white man was persecuted for standing against it. You're welcome.
Hated having to memorize events (battles, elections, etc.) in history classes… stuff that could easily be found in encyclopedias (ya I’m old "af") or now online. Your students are lucky to have someone recognize the importance of HOW people lived and were treated.
@sadiebowman2682 Thank you for caring enough about your students to teach them the truth, especially in these turbulent times and no matter how "inconvenient" that may be to some. I have no doubt that your students will speak of you fondly in years to come and be grateful for your honesty and dedication to their education (I know that I feel that way about the teachers who went above and beyond for me) 💖👍
@@jengsci8268This! Well said! I'm half English, half Irish. On my Irish side, I had family who were indentured. On my English side, I had family who died of starvation because they joined with other mill workers and refused to process cotton that had been produced by slaves, in protest against the practice of slavery. The word even comes from the "slavs", indentured peasants in Eastern Europe and modern-day Russia, so the history is long and varied, across multiple cultures and all of it is awful.
However, NONE of that takes away from the horrific atrocities suffered as a result of the transatlantic slave trade by Africans and people of African descent. All slavery is unforgivable. Although I do think that the continued racism (especially the Jim Crow laws) that continued long after abolition in the US, arguably until the present day, is not going to go away until it is addressed. The fact that the US still has people who long for a return to that era, openly, is terrifying - and so I think that there is a strong argument that the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade is far more pervasive and destructive in the present day, than other forms of slavery.
Understanding the whole history of this country is what we need to overcome the struggle we are face now… never go back. Thank you PBS
The TeaPartyGOP blocks information on racist events perpetrated by whites on Blacks and native Americans.
Let’s hope that the new admin does not come after PBS!
It isn't understood because it isn't taught. And now we have Oklahoma pushing bibles down children's throats. It seems that the only thing being taught to these youngsters is a warped version of just one religion. No History, no Science, no Social Science. Is it any wonder that Oklahoma lies 49th in the education league tables? We're raising a nation of ignorant and ill informed youngsters but this suits the Republicans just fine as intelligent and well informed citizens would be less likely to vote for their lies.
Absolutely. These stories of quiet defiance help us move forward. (Though the defiance need not always be quiet.)
Guess what? Republicans will try to defund PBS. Count on it.
It wasn’t that long ago. This is why history needs to be shared.
and now the opposite is happening and whyte people are been targeted by racism we must all stand up against this disease against whoever is responsible from either side
Thank you, PBS, for bringing light to Mr Manly and his beautiful family.
Im a proud American Descendant of Slaves
And proud to know i come from a spirit of people who do not live by or rule by cruelty
Yes!
I grew up in Idaho five generations. We were far away from these issues not having black people. But in the 1930's my grandfather a Swede visited Louisisana to see his brother that moved there. On a bus a black man got on and my sweet grandfather scooted over to offer him a seat. A tap on the shoulder from behind, a man said, "We don't do that down here." My grandpa experienced his first brush with segregation and racism. During his stay he was shocked to find segregated facilities everywhere. When he got back to Idaho, he told everyone what he experienced. Being a Christian and sweet man that experiene stuck with him his entire life.
@@luckylogger7594My dad was passing through the south back in the 50s or 60s. He opened the door for a black lady. She looked at him funny. The white cashier asked “Are you a Jew from New York?”
“Yes.”
“We don’t do that here.”
That must be the universal southern response to treating another person the way you want to be treated.
@@ferretyluvDon't forget that all the black people in these stories are southern, too 😊.
@@ferretyluvYES even in the '80s. I moved from Chicago to NC. I began dating a coworker, we had lunch together. One of the old lady managers lectured me on how "It's just not done." I was 18, I thought she meant she didn't want her cashiers dating the stockboys. When it hit me it was because he was black, I was SO angry. He was used to it, which broke my heart 😢 Never forget the free lessons life gives us
Thank you PBS. I am 62 years old, and never heard of this. What a horror.
History was taught (largely still) as battle dates & generals and presidents. Crap easily found online & in textbooks. THIS is more meaningful (& useful & interesting) history.
First we must know our history.
Second, and this is the hard part, is to recognize when our country is repeating the same mistakes we made in the past so we can prevent them from occurring again.
Two simple parts that should be easy but, somehow, face a lot of resistance.
Hi Idaho! I grew up there.....best to you❤
Amen
True
Amen!
Black history IS American history! Thanks PBS, for publishing this piece.👍👍
Wow. This kind of thing needs to be taught in schools.
Sadly, this is the very thing maga and the right tell us doesn't exist let alone should ever be taught in schools. I fear we are going backwards.
It is in some.
Of course it should be but it’s difficult to teach closed minds. To make matters worse, racists have made it impossible to cover any Black history. Just as many did as far as learning reading and writing, the Black community will have to teach their history themselves AND include any white friends and family who express an interest in learning. Otherwise your voices will be drowned out.
Haven’t they tried but MAGA and the GOP fight it?
And yet, the people who are about to come into power want to erase this part of history. We will not let it die.
One small act can make a massive impact.
It is great to see these pictures of families together, looking back at you with dignity; mothers and fathers raising their children together.
"The day will come when Americans will realize that a government that will not protect its citizens cannot demand protection for itself."
~ Black Chronicle, June 1st, 1896.
I'm grateful that this video landed on my home page today! In today's climate, this story and the beautiful images of these proud, dignified, and beautiful people unexpectedly brought me to tears. Thank you for this project, PBS! 💝
Such distinguished images. We really should all be taking such images again. A portrait. Get dressed up, do your hair, take a photo, and put that photo up on our walls. It's a beautiful statement.
agreed
They still do, and i agree i hope it becomes popular again!! 20 something years ago in my childhood we went a few times as a family to a photo studio to get professional pictures taken, but nowadays since everyone's got a camera in their pocket they seem to forget just how different a true professional portrait is from a casual phone selfie etc. But there's still many photo studios out there, and i hope to see more and more people visiting them!
As long as I live, I will never understand how people can hate to the point of lynching innocent people and CHEER for it. Absolutely revolting. And these same people are also followers of christ? Truly disgusting. Thank you for sharing this, PBS! ❤
I agree, however true followers of Christ know that Christs tells us to love one another as Christ has loved them. It doesn’t say, “Love one another only if they are the same color as you.” Those people were not true followers of Christ.
You see hate today in Antifa and BLM. Violence and burning down businesses still happens.
Followers of Christ and followers of Jesus are different groups.
Who are they following?
@@harlanbarnhart4656 They may say that they are following Christ, but either they’ve never read the entire Bible, or they are picking and choosing the verses they like and ignoring the rest.
Love old photos and many have hidden significance....not just the capturing of a moment in time. As a Brit I find these little acts of defiance, bravery or 'up yours' sentiments, in photos taken around the world, so wonderful. Thank ou forthe video. 😊
😢💔🙏🏽🇺🇸May we never forget, never go back.
Sadly, already back
@@andrewcampbell1129how do you mean?
Uh....who was burning cities during the Summer of Love?
@@queenbunnyfoofoo6112 Dig deeper (mas profundo) as to root causes, surface thinking is shallow and rarely addresses the issue
@@andrewcampbell1129 Oh plueeeeze......
Wow. I’m 45 and learned something new today. I had no idea the power these old photographs actually held! In these cases a picture is definitely worth more than a thousand words!
Thank you, PBS, for still teaching ACTUAL history when America wants to rewrite it or act like it didn't happen. I've been watching since I was a kid and I'm glad I can still watch and be secure that I'm learning.
Also, when people want to know why America is the way it is when it comes to race and "division"... this video shines a bit of light on it. Learn your history!
“The best revenge is NOT to be like your enemy” (Marcus Aurelius). I would add …and to NOT be like their stereotype. Be better. Live better. Rise, in spite of all efforts to wrongly define and deny you. This was the pattern of my elders and ancestors, and I have always strived to follow their example. Thank you, PBS, for highlighting our resilience and how far we have come (and could go), together. 🤍
This made me think of this quote… “The problem was not our torturers but that we began to hate them. Then we would be lost.”-Thich Nhat Hanh.
I would say, IGNORE THE STEREOTYPE. It's on the viewer to dismiss the stereotype, not on the people to give a f*ck about it.
Thank you PBS
As a photographer, it was always a joy to capture a families love for one another & I've felt that being the photographer I captured their history in a single moment in time.
Be present. Be visible.
You'd think that after all these years we would have moved forward but sadly it seems that we're regressing.
Unfortunately, it's the way we evolved. If you KNOW that, you can resist acting like this. But unfortunately there is little introspection in the type of people who commit atrocities like this. We can see it happening right now. They are creating scapegoats as a way to manipulate people, and the people being manipulated don't even realize that they have had a harness and bit put on THEM, and they go where their masters tell them. I guess it's lack of education. But I don't really know why they yearn for the harness.
What are you talking about? We are absolutely NOT regressing. The only thing that is, is the divisive rhetoric and the lying media.
@This-Is-My-Little-Corner I place no value on the opinions of anyone who hides their identity. Nothing to hide then why hide behind anonymity?
@ I don’t need to let the voyeurs in to have an opinion 😂
@@This-Is-My-Little-Corner Then why post? You could have complete anonymity by remaining silent. Once you post you invite comment. Unless of course you want the attention but not to hear dissenting views.
I was raised by Seasame street and PBS is still my favorite channel of all time!!!!
The family portraits are so beautiful, not just in the sense of composition but the joy and strength in their faces. The beauty of the fact that these families could stay together and be there for one another after a horrific history of being denied that support.
I was a photography student, this should've been covered in history. I had hoped that "we're not going back",God help us to stay on a righteous path
"Freedom of speech" if you say, what the rich people in charge also want to hear. 🤦♀
Thanks for sharing this story! It seems such a shame, people are so cruel to eachother. :(
power corrupts; Abslute power corrupts absolutely.
Short but educational and very interesting . Shared to FB Public.
If you haven't watched the full documentary yet, AMERICAN COUP: WILMINGTON 1898 is streaming free on our website and the PBS App: www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/american-coup-wilmington-1898/
I love this video! Not what they teach in school. The portraits are beautiful and empowering. I know this country STILL has a long way to go and in this time it’s an uphill battle. Thank you for this video!
Humanity has a long way to go. It's not specific to any country. It's all of us.
Thank you for sharing that, I have never heard this story
I'm sure there are many stories like that, but get swept under the rug. Knowing others that are speaking out against this, might enable/encourage more to do it. We have seen (recently) this happen, empowering people to be racist, sexist, hateful out loud and proud created a movement.
Couldn't have that happen. Heaven forbid all people aren't any of those things and actually got along despite their race, gender, etc. No division? Ghastly! /s
I live in Greensboro, NC. In the aftermath of the Civil War, we had to face the terrible reality of what to do with the bodies of the Union soldiers that had passed away on our soil. Something that MANY people might not be aware of today, but in those olden days everything was segregated. Not just our areas where people lived in the town, shopped for their household goods and worshiped. Oh no, even when you died they buried you in segregated cemeteries! And of course you were treated in segregated hospitals as well! The people decided that these dead invaders would not be buried with the other Caucasian people in the white cemetery in town. So they were rounded up and carted over to the African American side of town and even today you can visit the Union cemetery. Greensboro, NC has quite a number of significant Civil rights moments that we have contributed to the history. I only hope that we can continue to look forward with better understanding about how all people deserve opportunities and equality. Warmest regards from Greensboro, NC, USA.
Thank you so much for that information, it was interesting. All the best from Cheshire, England ❤
@stephaniemerlin1 You're so welcome Stephanie! We still have a long way to go in order to heal our broken relationships with our racial past. But, only by facing what was done, together with a firm resolution that we must do better for ALL people can we make a brighter future where we all can be friends, colleagues and partners. I graduated from a Historically Black University in 1984 here in Elizabeth City NC and in order to help desegregate it I was given Minority Presence Scholarship money as part of my financial aid assistance. Later on, here in Greensboro, NC I worked as a Prospect Researcher evaluating wealthy individuals, corporations and foundations in the Development office on a $100 million dollars campaign at the largest black university in the nation over 5 years. These universities are known as HBCUs. I like to think of myself as HBCU through and through!
Thank you for sharing that bit of your city's history. It reminds me of the pejoratives "white trash" and calling men a female dog: in both cases, people using the terms are diminishing the people they insult further in ways that show their biases: "white trash" people aren't "normal" or "regular" or "everyday" trash people -- they're below other assumed trash people by virtue of being specified -- and likewise, men called female dogs are worse than dogs, lower than dogs, for being called female ones specifically. For the people who made the decision to bury all Union soldiers in the local African American cemeteries, regardless of the race of the deceased, that must've been the strongest insult they could think of: that in death, these soldiers weren't "worthy" of being buried in their white cemeteries. 🙄 Meanwhile, knowing how disgusting humans can be and have been historically, I was incredibly relieved to hear that they buried "enemy" soldiers in cemeteries at all instead of burning them in pyres, etc. Ultimately seems like the local African American community took the brunt of this decision (not uncommon, I assume) in having lost valuable cemetery space and in having to either upkeep the graves of people no one knew or let that part of the community's cemetery fall into disrepair and become an eyesore.
I find it remarkable that as a Scot, and going to school in 70's & early 80's, I learned more about your history regarding slavery and civil rights than any US kids do now.
What's happening now reminds me of this... In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose “ - the more things change, the more they stay the same…
I wish people could just learn we are all human, we are all the same species. You don't see felines or canines fighting because they are different colours, sizes, shapes. Territory yes, I guess that rings true.... 😢
❤
Go tell your people that..they are the ones that reject that type of thinking..we don't have to get in a circle and sing cumbaya..that will never happen..and that's okay..
Cats and dogs do fight..they are not human..fyi
We do teach African American studies in our schools and there's a whole month dedicated to it. We don't know every story about African Americans just like we don't know everything about Italian americans, irish-americans, etc. I am not comparing their journeys, I'm just saying there is always much to know about history and always stories to be shared.
Unfortunately, it's a very divisive subject and from my opinion, some people will never be happy, no matter what you do. We can't change the past and they weren't slaves.
@@nooneyouknow5516Who wasn’t slaves? The man in the story wasn’t. He was a hard working businessman who had his business burned by ignorant racist white people. He didn’t have to be a slave for their ignorance to affect him deeply.
@@cjrains6022 The people who will never be happy no matter what they get/think they are owed, weren't slaves.
Thank you.
Heartbreaking and joyous. We keep resisting...one day we will rest 🖤
Omg .. this is so sad... I love history!!!
I am a native Wilmingtonian, many generations back. No one in my family, nor I, had ever heard of the 1898 Coup until the 1990's.
That the 1898 Coup was never taught in schools is a travesty that was foisted upon us by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, who had absolute veto rights over the history books used in the state of North Carolina.
It's sad that not only was Wilmington's history whitewashed, but much of the whole country's has been too.
I'm so glad you're not whitewashing this history like others in the field...❤ Learn to never forget.🎉😢
We have come SOOOO far in this beautiful country. We can’t go back! We have fought so hard for every right we have. This belongs in history books, not current events.
Thank you PBS. I did not know of this story in history. Now that I am aware, I will do everything in my power to see that no bully, or group of bullies, does harm to a fellow American again.
Bless all who uphold Freedom and Principle. These have no color.
Many people today want to return to this kind of era. Think about that fact. You can spot them easily, flying the flags of the Confederacy and the Third Reich.
Where? I haven’t seen them!
@@auntlizzy1308 Haven't seen them? You must be in Russia, or maybe China or some other authoritarian led country. Here in the United States, people are free to show off their stupidity. (smh)
@@cheryal2809 I have seen confederate flags but not the other ones.
@@auntlizzy1308 - You're just not looking at photos from the far-right rallies where they wave it. But then, it depends on where you get your news. For example, Fox likes to downplay it.
@@auntlizzy1308Texas. I would pass farms with the flags up and look up the different confederate flags they were flying. Some dork was flying a confederate flag for a particular battle that didn’t even last a full day.
Depeche Mode has a greater legacy.
I imagine it’s just as prevalent in other states. You’re just fortunate enough to not be in those areas.
Josephus Daniels looks like Kevin Spacey 😂
That was my first thought when I saw him!
Great topic
This also inadvertently explains why the concept of Black Love exists and why it's so important to the culture.
Absolutely. Because Black Love IS resistance❤🖤
@@theblackpearlofbraavos This!
Amazing and how powerful the Amercian black experience was and is. God's hands, God's hands. The history of killing, stealing, and.destroying is an act of pure evil. It still exists today in other ways that parade around as other things yet racism written all over it
Absolutely! We are told there isn't any racism anymore. What a joke! Thank you PBS! Caucasians try to paint a picture of unity! This should be taught in schools. Black children can see what their ancestors were put through. Their ancestors were brave, hardworking and intelligent.
My grandchildren must be taught ALL of our history in school. And I intend to share with them the parts that are left out.
@@RevLeigh55 Surely you understand that public/private schools (meaning formal education) cannot possibly teach all of history. If you want to do something for your granchildren, take them to public libraries every week, and teach them to respect books, and read, read, read.
@@sherrihorrigan7715. Surprise, but not all black children living in America have ancestors who were slaves.
@@shawnaweesner3759not all Americans voted for Trump. And yet the mantra by MAGA coursing through the narrative is the ENTIRE country has spoken in the most recent election.
Stand up, speak up people. Thank you PBS.
450 signatures.
People who wanted you to know and have proof of their ambitions.
.
I almost sure that the scariest animal roaming this earth is the human being.
Gorgeous photos
Thank you - had no idea about this.
Thank you PBS for sharing, I didn't know it. I love hearing stories of heroes, people who spoke up against injustices, people who helped others through that even risking their own lives. I hear stories like this and many from WWII, I just wish they were all written in some book because these stories should be told and these heroes should be the role model for kids not celebrities.
It makes me sick what this country has done. 😔 The spirit of the people we enslaved must infuriate the racists who STILL try to destroy them. What a world….
That isn't accurate. If you think that every corner of the world hasn't been touched by it throughout all history, then you need to study more history. And it is a lie to say our country is racist and trying to destroy them.
Narrator? Who is the narrator? Such a great voice. Couldn't find it in the credits.
Mahalo nui loa. I will never view these beautiful photographs quite the same again. Quiet resistance!
Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks for watching!
I can’t imagine how awful that was. We cannot go back.
Thank you so much. What a gift...
This is a powerful video, thank you for sharing! I am going to share too!
There's a lot of heros that've fought for the advancement of humanity of all colors. This man should be remembered for being a brave soul in the middle of a dark wilderness to help his less fortunate fellowman, even at a risk to his own life.
Hate and attacks cause people to thrive, as in deciding to live. Christians, Jews, black Americans and so on. So good for them!
Thank you PBS for telling this story, powerful history in less that 3 minutes.
Unfortunately, the racism of Wilmington a century ago is alive & well not only in the USA but in Israel as well & our US tax dollars fund it in both countries😣 Thank you PBS for important programs such as this one!
This is timely as we face racism more pronounced than has been since the civil rights movement. It’s unfortunate to believe we have been drug back that period of time. The fact is one man is responsible for the division we see today. His rhetoric is of an old white man that has been rooted in by his father before him. Through my life I would say when this generation of people expire then we can live in peace but then just under the surface there are more. He gave them the platform to be racists. I’m throughly disgusted by the way people treat each other.
I've read that the old white man's father was arrested at a big Klan rally in NYC, although the charges were subsequently dropped. There's also the history of the old white man and his Dad buying a building and evicting all the non-white tenants. They got fined for that, but it didn't help the people who were evicted. Toxic man, toxic family, toxic people who own him.
The one man responsible for the division we see today is Obama. I was surprised to see he made black colleges request federal assistance every year. But Trump changed that. Trump is good for the black people. He has done more good for them than any president since Lincoln.
Yes, I agree. Biden has been extremely divisive and it started with Obama. The rhetoric and racism of the Left have tried to bring us back there, and we have no part in it. Get off of CNN and go read. What you have been sold is a lie.
I’m afraid it’s not just one man. He brought that vicious racism (among other things) out into the public arena, but it was there all along. Not even under the surface, just not visible in public. We have a long way to go… and there are many crucial battlegrounds. One place to start is convincing non-voters to vote, and another is making sure that school boards don’t remove books or approve racist curricula.
What about the race riot in Oklahoma around the same time that destroyed a thriving Black neighborhood. They even had airplanes bombing the place. Thousands were killed and dumped in mass graves. The neighborhood was burned to the ground. The survivors have been refused compensation by the courts to this day.
Exactly..their reply is always, forget the past, it was a long time ago, we are all human beings..we ain't forgetting 💩! Especially when they haven't repented, or paid what is OWED...we will never forget, I will never forgive..
That would be the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, another heinous blot on US history that is not taught nor learned from in the United States.
"After all, democracy takes place when the silenced find a voice, and when we begin to listen to what they have to say."
~ Lani Guinier (1950-2022), Brilliant American Civil Rights theorist and professor. She was the recipient of many fellowships. She was by then nominated for the department of Attorney Generals Civil Rights division by then President Clinton, but despite her qualifications, she was rejected because the majority were afraid of her clarity of her beliefs, experience, and intelligence. Lani Guinier was also gay. Her voice was silenced.
Beautiful Portraits. 🖤🖤🖤
Thank you, PBS. Will this country ever heal and become just?
I don't think it will. We are going to have to go through this whether or not we like it. And then find out where we are.
Not as long as PBS and it’s ilk continue to stir the pot. They’ll soon be defunded tho 😅
@@Brap-pl2me"sTiR tHe pOt" = "what i'm hearing makes me uncomfortable in my emotional fee-fees. truth baaaaaad!"
@@Brap-pl2meif racism ended there would be no pot to stir.
@@betenoireindustries 🤣 From someone who no doubt thinks that little boys can somehow be transubstantiated into little girls because of their emotional “fee-fees.”
kahma AI fixes this. Photo as resilience proof.
These photos are beautiful. Are they on display somewhere?
I see very little has changed in NC.
2:11 Does anyone know who this man is? He looks so much like Lavar Burton that I have to wonder if there is an ancestral relationship here.
David T Oswell
Educational. Glad everyone was alive in the photo.
Wow. Thanks for sharing this. We must preserve this history as others look to suppress it.
Things we never learned about in school.
THIS is why I support PBS, NPR, and my local affiliate wherever I live. It's where the truth of history is presented
Oh, definitely others, and the ones you listed are not always truth-sayers. NPR is not.
I like the ending statement ... unlike too many in current times, he refused to consider this country as 'less' and still praised it as his own.
So that’s the conclusion you’ve drawn from this. 🙄
@@Sndyj457 Did I say that was the overarching statement of the entire video?? No. I said merely that I liked his final comment. I made no remark indicating my stance on the remainder.
The way I see it ... this is a powerful statement by people who made their homes, families and communities in this land, that THEREFORE it is their land, no matter if living there means enduring conditions of oppression. The powerful white people would like to say it is not their land: that they can only live there on sufferance, that they can make no decisions about what to do, how to work, where to go; that if the powerful should decree it, they must depart, either out of sight or into the ground. But no! My country.... of thee I sing. That is a statement which does not say, I want to be part of the country as the powerful define it; rather, it says, that definition is wrong, this country is one which is also MINE.
I grew up in the 60’s in a small town in Southern Canada, not far from the border with Washington state. I would guess that it was about 90% white European, some Indian families, some Asian families and, from what I can remember, one black family. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable that must have been. Not totally open racism for the most part but not well hidden.
These people are beautiful and dignified. It is also so amazing...I recognise the faces of people I know (i.e: people of today who ressemble them very much). I nearly cried. Thank you so much. xx
Thank you! Wonderful video :)
I was abused by people who told me that the music I listened to was evil. I listened and use it in my art.
I need to remember that art DOES matter!
With bounties on their heads, 1830’s Canadian ‘Conductors’ (Harriet Tubman) smuggled over 30,000 slaves into Canada - they were given freedom and 10 acres in Ontario. Canada saw the First black publisher. First Black Doctor who graduated from the University of Toronto, then returned to the US to care for Lincoln’s black soldiers on the battlefield. When Lincoln lay dying, he asked for the black surgeon to be by his side. Our $20 Bill proudly shows Harriet’s photo and she was posthumously awarded rank of General. 🫶🏼🇨🇦 Visit our museums in and around Chatham Ontario.
Thank you so much for this.
thank you for sharing this
We must teach this history. North Carolina has a brutal history up through the 20th Century
What an incredible story. Thank goodness PBS reminds us how resilient even those who are oppressed can be when we come together to resist that oppression and thrive inspite of it.
Welcome to the Resistance.
Well done.
Born in 68, graduated mid-80s. Grew up in Northern New Hampshire and thought that racism and bigotry and white supremacy have been overcome in the 60s with the Civil Rights Movement.
Eventually I move to Texas in my 30s and I learned differently. Then my biracial pal from high school told me that he had been the subject of racism during school. I was shocked and dismayed and discouraged.
Sometimes it seems like things are only slightly better, only in the glare of public scrutiny. I wonder if we will ever move beyond it?
Not if you thought racism had been eradicated in the 60s..are u trolling?
Thanks for this 👍
Patriotism isn't a noun, it is a verb, an action word. Despite his life being threatened and his lively hood being taken away, he still chose to see this country as a place to grow and live and raise a family.
True patriots are the ones who fight for a country even though the majority of its citizens want you dead. Black Americans are true patriots. They fought and still fight for a country that wants to delete them. They fight to make the country better for everyone. Because, if it is holding up the rights for them, then it is holding up the rights for everyone.
Screaming and shouting that you are a patriot only means you know how to say the word really loud. It does not mean you are what you profess to be. Screaming doesn't mean you love something, it means you have strong lungs.
Patriotism: love for one's country that is shown through personal identification and concern for the well-being of one's country. This is shown through the willingness to sacrifice for the overall good and progression of one's country.
Stating this fact does not take away from anyone else. It recognizes that not one group has a stronghold on something. Black people fought in every war in this country and for this country. Patriotism at its finest.
And people have just voted for the same racist rhetoric.
Interesting information on the history of our country. I did not know this.
I first heard about this and the horrific massacre of the Black community in the county at the EJI in Montgomery, AL. As a North Carolinian from the opposite end of the state, I am so sorry this was allowed to happen.
Some things you just feel in your spirit 🤐👍
TRUTH! History! Know It! Study It! LOVE!
I never heard of this man, but God bless him 🙏🙏!!! We ALL deserve to be treated like human beings because we are all one human race under God!!!! Besides slavery being awful, anti-Semitism and other forms of evil bigotry are beyond being profoundly sad because it shows children when adults forget that they have a conscience!!! We need to be the United States of America with the emphasis on United because America is a spirit in which we need to see we are one big human race!!!
I've just come from a scene very much like the one depicted at 1:08. Wish it were not so.
In an antique store I once encountered a collection of death portraits- pictures taken of people after they died. I was surprised by the large number of black people dressed in finery and the shop owner explained much the same thing. photos were expensive and they were making a statement of how they had become successful enough to do this.
What a lovely video!
Be a Wilmington. Always be a Wilmington.
More black history we never heard about!!! Thank you much :) ☀️💙🌷🌱