We Have Taken a City -

We Have Taken a City

H. Leon Prather, Sr.

H. Leon Prather, Sr.’s *We Have Taken a City: The Wilmington Racial Massacre and Coup of 1898* examines a devastating turning point in American history. In November 1898, white supremacists violently overthrew Wilmington, North Carolina’s elected government, attacking the city’s Black community and dismantling its political power. This essential work confronts the violence used to suppress Black progress and reminds us why preserving historical truth matters. Understanding Wilmington means understanding both the fragility of democracy and the ongoing struggle for justice.

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At a Glance

“We have taken a city.”

Why This Book Matters

Black Fortunes matters because it restores a hidden chapter of American history—one where formerly enslaved African Americans not only survived freedom, but built wealth, businesses, and generational legacies against extraordinary odds.

These stories challenge the narrative that Black economic success is new or rare. Instead, they reveal a long tradition of entrepreneurship, land ownership, and strategic vision that has often been erased or overlooked.

This book reframes what Black success looks like—and who gets remembered for it.

Key Themes

The Wilmington coup of 1898
White supremacy and racial violence
Black political power and disenfranchisement
African American history after Reconstruction
Black economic progress and community life
Electoral manipulation and political conspiracy
Racial terror and forced displacement
Historical memory and the preservation of truth
Democracy, citizenship, and civil rights
The lasting consequences of racial injustice

What You'll Learn

Black Fortunes offers more than historical biographies—it provides lessons in leadership, perseverance, entrepreneurship, and the importance of preserving overlooked stories. Readers will leave with a deeper understanding of how Black Americans shaped the nation’s economic history despite extraordinary obstacles.

Reflection Questions

How does learning about the Wilmington coup change your understanding of the history of American democracy?
Why might a violent overthrow of an elected government be minimized or omitted from common historical narratives?
How did racial violence serve as a tool for dismantling Black political and economic progress?
What does Wilmington’s history reveal about the relationship between political power and racial justice?
How can communities preserve historical truth when powerful groups attempt to suppress it?
What connections do you see between the events of 1898 and later struggles for voting rights and political representation?
Why is remembering Wilmington essential to understanding both Black resilience and the ongoing fight for justice?

About the Author

H. Leon Prather, Sr. (1921–1998) was an American historian and scholar whose work examined African American history and race relations. His research on the 1898 Wilmington coup helped document how white supremacists overthrew Wilmington’s elected government, attacked the city’s Black community, and reversed Black political and economic progress. His book remains an important historical account of this pivotal event in North Carolina and American history.

About the Author

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