Race, Place, and Memory: Deep Currents in Wilmington, North Carolina (Cultural Heritage Studies)

A revealing work of public history that shows how communities remember their pasts in different ways to fit specific narratives, Race, Place, and Memory charts the ebb and flow of racial violence in Wilmington, North Carolina, from the 1730s to the present day. Margaret Mulrooney argues that white elites have employed public spaces, memorials, and celebrations to maintain the status quo. The port city has long celebrated its white colonial revolutionary origins, memorialized Decoration Day, and hosted Klan parades. Other events, such as the Azalea Festival, have attempted to present a false picture of racial harmony to attract tourists. And yet, the revolutionary acts of Wilmington's African American citizenswho also demanded freedom, first from slavery and later from Jim Crow discriminationhave gone unrecognized. As a result, beneath the surface of daily life, collective memories of violence and alienation linger among the city's black population. Mulrooney describes her own experiences as a public historian involved in the centennial commemoration of the so-called Wilmington Race Riot of 1898, which perpetuated racial conflicts in the city throughout the twentieth century. She shows how, despite organizers' best efforts, a white-authored narrative of the riot's contested origins remains. Mulrooney makes a case for public history projects that recognize the history-making authority of all community members and prompts us to reconsider the memories we inherit. A volume in the series Cultural Heritage Studies, edited by Paul A. Shackel Publication of the paperback edition made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. A revealing work of public history that shows how communities remember their pasts in different ways to fit specific narratives, __Race, Place, and Memory__ charts the ebb and flow of racial violence in Wilmington, North Carolina, from the 1730s to the present day. Margaret Mulrooney argues that white elites have employed public spaces, memorials, and celebrations to maintain the status quo. The port city has long celebrated its white colonial revolutionary origins, memorialized Decoration Day, and hosted Klan parades. Other events, such as the Azalea Festival, have attempted to present a false picture of racial harmony to attract tourists. And yet, the revolutionary acts of Wilmington’s African American citizens—who also demanded freedom, first from slavery and later from Jim Crow discrimination—have gone unrecognized. As a result, beneath the surface of daily life, collective memories of violence and alienation linger among the city’s black population. Mulrooney describes her own experiences as a public historian involved in the centennial commemoration of the so-called Wilmington Race Riot of 1898, which perpetuated racial conflicts in the city throughout the twentieth century. She shows how, despite organizers’ best efforts, a white-authored narrative of the riot’s contested origins remains. Mulrooney makes a case for public history projects that recognize the history-making authority of all community members and prompts us to reconsider the memories we inherit. A revealing work of public history that shows how communities remember their pasts in different ways to fit specific narratives, Race, Place, and Memory charts the ebb and flow of racial tension in Wilmington, North Carolina, from the 1730s to the present day. Margaret Mulrooney argues that while the port city has long celebrated its white colonial revolutionary origins, it has ignored the revolutionary acts of its African American citizens who also demanded freedom—first from slavery and later from Jim Crow discrimination. Lingering beneath the surface of daily life, she shows, are collective memories of violence and alienation that were exacerbated by the Wilmington Race Riot of 1898 and racial conflicts that occurred in the city throughout the twentieth century. Critically evaluating the riot's centennial commemoration, which she helped organize, Mulrooney makes a case for public history projects that recognize the history-making authority of all community members and prompt us to reconsider the memories we inherit. A revealing work of public history that shows how communities remember their pasts to fit specific narratives, this book charts the ebb and flow of racial tension in Wilmington, North Carolina, from the 1730s to the present. Margaret Mulrooney argues that while the city has celebrated its white colonial revolutionary origins, it has ignored the revolutionary acts of its African American citizens. This Book Uses The 1998 Commemoration Of The Wilmington Race Riot Of 1898 As A Springboard To Explore The Historic Roots Of Modern Disagreements Over Cultural Heritage. Rising Tide, 1740-1880 -- Port In A Storm, 1840-1880 -- Slack Water, 1880-1920 -- Ebb And Flow, 1920-1990 -- Soundings. Margaret M. Mulrooney ; Foreword By Paul A. Shackel. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Race, Place, and Memory 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 CONTENTS 8 List of Figures 10 Foreword 12 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction 18 1. Rising Tide, 1739–1840 28 2. Port in a Storm, 1840–1880 73 3. Slack Water, 1880–1920 128 4. Ebb and Flow, 1920–1990 191 5. Soundings 261 Notes 300 Bibliography 336 Index 360