Triumphs and Hardships of African-American in Wilmington during Reconstruction (2010)

Undergraduate: Charlotte Egerton

Faculty Advisor: James Leloudis
Department: History

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From my research I was able to conclude that the less authoritative attitudes towards Wilmington blacks before the Civil War became a major cause of later retribution as it opened doors for greater accomplishments by blacks during reconstruction and therefore white hostility during later decades. The foundation of African American success was laid during reconstruction, when thousands of newly freed slaves flocked to Wilmington in hopes of a fresh start. Wilmington’s own branch of The Freedmen’s Bureau, established in July 1865, was an attraction for relocating free blacks. In the three years of its official operation, the Bureau substantially aided African Americans in town, yet also caused future distress. The benefits of the Bureau were provisions of food and clothing as well as an education system through Freedmen’s schools. However, the Bureau did fail in some of its tasks. Its promise to give every free man, “40 acres and a mule” was unfeasible; the bank established by the Bureau caused hundreds of African Americans to lose their savings. Despite the hardships the Bureau caused, the black community in Wilmington was thriving until the 1898 incident which was evident through the amount of social, religious and educational opportunities in the African American community as well as political success through elected offices. Through these different outlets, I was able to see the transition in racial views that occurred through the later half of the 19th century.