Race, Place, and Memory: Deep Currents in Wilmington, North Carolina

375 Pages·2018·3.26 MB·English

by  Margaret M. Mulrooney

Race, Place, and Memory
Cultural Heritage Studies
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola

Race, Place,
and Memory
Deep Currents in Wilmington, North Carolina
M A R G A R E T M . M U L R O O N E Y
FOREWORD BY PAUL A. SHACKEL
University Press of Florida
Gainesville / Tallahassee / Tampa / Boca Raton
Pensacola / Orlando / Miami / Jacksonville / Ft. Myers / Sarasota
Copyright 2018 by Margaret M. Mulrooney
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
This book may be available in an electronic edition.
23 22 21 20 19 18 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Mulrooney, Margaret M., 1966– author. | Shackel, Paul A., author of foreword.
Title: Race, place, and memory : deep currents in Wilmington, North Carolina
/ Margaret M. Mulrooney ; foreword by Paul A. Shackel.
Other titles: Cultural heritage studies.
Description: Gainesville : University Press of Florida, 2018. | Series:
Cultural heritage studies | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017030450 | ISBN 9780813054926 (cloth : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: African Americans—North Carolina—Wilmington—History—19th
century. | Riots—North Carolina—Wilmington—History—19th century. |
Wilmington (N.C.)—Race relations.
Classification: LCC F264.W7 M85 2018 | DDC 305.8009756/27—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017030450
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State University
System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida
Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University, New College
of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of North Florida,
University of South Florida, and University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611–2079
http://upress.ufl.edu
FOR MARK
AND
HENRY AND MARY

CONTENTS
List of Figures ix
Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
1. Rising Tide, 1739–1840 11
2. Port in a Storm, 1840–1880 56
3. Slack Water, 1880–1920 111
4. Ebb and Flow, 1920–1990 174
5. Soundings 244
Notes 283
Bibliography 319
Index 343

FIGURES
1.1. C. J. Sauthier’s map of Wilmington, 1769 21
1.2. Omar ibn Said (Moro), ca. 1855 53
2.1. Reproduction of a portrait of Alexander MacRae in his Masonic
regalia 59
3.1. The Sadgwar family 113
3.2. Gathering of Confederate veterans on the steps of the Wilmington
Light Infantry Armory 123
3.3. A gathering at the Confederate Monument, Oakdale Cemetery 124
3.4. Hugh MacRae’s home at 715 Market Street, ca. 1902 130
3.5. Alex Manly, editor of the Daily Record 133
4.1. Pageant of the Lower Cape Fear, June 1921 177
4.2. Crowd gathered in front of City Hall to watch the Feast of the Pirates
Festival Parade, ca. 1927 183
4.3. Attorney John Jay Burney Sr. and Feast of the Pirates Festival chairman,
Paul O’Crowley 184
4.4. Float with white “Lady Liberty” 185
4.5. “Tillie in front of Tileston School” 192
4.6. Parade float carrying the 1952 Azalea Queen and her court 208
4.7. The Kiwanis Minstrels 209
4.8. The February 3, 1971, demonstration 234
5.1. Wilmington’s controversial 1898 Memorial, erected in 2008 278