Black Wilmington and the North Carolina Way

Portrait of a Community in the Era of Civil Rights Protest

John L. Godwin

In this gripping narrative of the development of the Civil Rights movement in North Carolina, Dr. John L. Godwin brings to life the infamous case of the Wilmington Ten and the subsequent allegations of conspiracy. Through extensive research and interviews, he seeks to uncover some of the truth behind the actual events of the 1972 trial, while at the same time drawing readers in with the compelling details of the movement's origins in North Carolina and its ultimate outcome in one community. Dr. Godwin underscores his effort with a comprehensive exploration of the Civil Rights movement through the eyes of the locality, comparing it incisively to the earlier protests of the 1960s. His portrait joins that of scholars who have sought to describe the transformation brought about by black leadership on the local and state level, recounting both its victories and the frustrated hopes of local activists, in addition to how the new conservatism ultimately succeeded in co-opting the movement. For Wilmington, this is set against the background of North Carolina politics and civic culture, highlighting the role of Benjamin Chavis and his rise to national prominence. Filled with pictures that personalize this troubled era of American history, Dr. Godwin's book is an essential resource, not only to historians but also to students of public policy.

University Press of America

Pages: 464 • Trim: 6 x 9¼

978-0-7618-1682-9 • Hardback • July 2000 • $116.00 • (£89.00)

Subjects: History / United States / General

Black Wilmington and the North Carolina Way

Portrait of a Community in the Era of Civil Rights Protest

Hardback

Summary

In this gripping narrative of the development of the Civil Rights movement in North Carolina, Dr. John L. Godwin brings to life the infamous case of the Wilmington Ten and the subsequent allegations of conspiracy. Through extensive research and interviews, he seeks to uncover some of the truth behind the actual events of the 1972 trial, while at the same time drawing readers in with the compelling details of the movement's origins in North Carolina and its ultimate outcome in one community. Dr. Godwin underscores his effort with a comprehensive exploration of the Civil Rights movement through the eyes of the locality, comparing it incisively to the earlier protests of the 1960s. His portrait joins that of scholars who have sought to describe the transformation brought about by black leadership on the local and state level, recounting both its victories and the frustrated hopes of local activists, in addition to how the new conservatism ultimately succeeded in co-opting the movement. For Wilmington, this is set against the background of North Carolina politics and civic culture, highlighting the role of Benjamin Chavis and his rise to national prominence. Filled with pictures that personalize this troubled era of American history, Dr. Godwin's book is an essential resource, not only to historians but also to students of public policy.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 464 • Trim: 6 x 9¼

978-0-7618-1682-9 • Hardback • July 2000 • $116.00 • (£89.00)

Subjects: History / United States / General

Author

John L. Godwin received his Master's Degree and Doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Tables
Chapter 2 Preface
Chapter 3 Acknowledgments
Chapter 4 Introduction
Chapter 5 In the Shadow of Jim Crow: Black Wilmington and North Carolina Civic Culture
Chapter 6 After the World Wars: The Early Civil Rights Movement
Chapter 7 The Era of Brown: Massive Resistance, Black Education, and Community Mobilization
Chapter 8 Entering the Mainstream: Civil Rights and the North Carolina Way
Chapter 9 The Trumpet Sounds: Community Crisis and the Civil Rights Movement
Chapter 10 The Walls Come Down: Political, Economic, and Cultural Transformation
Chapter 11 Taming a Whirlwind: Civil Rights Leadership and the Crisis of Community Transformation
Chapter 12 Conclusion
Chapter 13 Afterword: Coming of Age in a New Era of Conservatism
Chapter 14 Appendix
Chapter 15 Notes
Chapter 16 Bibliography

Reviews

. . . this work is a useful account of an important phase of the civil rights struggle.
— Choice Reviews

. . . this work is a useful account of an important phase of the civil rights struggle.
— Choice Reviews