The Wilmington Massacre, also known as the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898 or the Wilmington Race Riot, was a violent attack on the African American community in Wilmington, North Carolina on November 10, 1898. The events leading to the massacre can be traced back to a combination of political, economic, and racial tensions in the city.

Political Context: At the time, Wilmington had a biracial government with a significant number of African American officials. The white Democratic Party, led by elite white businessmen and politicians, sought to regain political control from the biracial Fusionist government, which included both Republicans and Populists.

Economic Factors: The white elite in Wilmington felt threatened by the economic success of African Americans in the city. African American professionals and businessmen, such as Alexander Manly, posed a challenge to the existing economic hierarchy.

Racial Tensions: Racial segregation and discrimination were rampant in Wilmington, contributing to simmering racial tensions in the city.

The Wilmington Star and The Wilmington Messenger, both white-owned newspapers, played a significant role in stoking racial animosity and inciting violence against the African American community. These newspapers published inflammatory articles and cartoons filled with racist stereotypes, portraying African Americans as violent and dangerous. They also spread lies and propaganda about alleged crimes committed by African Americans to justify their suppression.

Alexander Manly, the editor of The Daily Record, was a prominent African American journalist in Wilmington. His newspaper advocated for racial equality and brought attention to the issue of lynching and sexual violence against African American women by white men. Manly's editorial, "The Only Way to Settle It," addressed the taboo subject of consensual relationships between white women and African American men, which further enraged white supremacists in Wilmington.

The publication of Manly's editorial, combined with the racist propaganda spread by white newspapers, fueled the anger of white supremacists in the city. This ultimately led to the violent overthrow of the biracial government in Wilmington and the massacre of African Americans, resulting in the burning of The Daily Record office building and the forced exile of many African American residents from the city.