In New Hanover County, a project 126 years in the making is underway: a museum dedicated to examining a critical yet often overlooked, misinterpreted and deeply painful event in American history, the 1898 Wilmington massacre and coup.

This project represents not just a revival and recognition of history but a bold step towards being a catalyst for healing, a supporter for education and a convenor for discussion and analysis of democracy.

Anyone who is paying attention to what is happening in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina and the United States of America should be able to agree that the Wilmington 1898 Museum for Healing, Education and Democracy is emerging at a crucial time.

As racial and social injustices along with opposition on how to heal from them continue to confront our society, and while there are challenges to why and how to engage in our democracy, understanding our past’s complexities becomes increasingly vital.

There is no disputing the events that began in early 1898, which then culminated in the coup d’état and massacre on Nov. 10, where a duly elected government was overthrown and African American communities in the county and surrounding areas were decimated.

As astounding, earth-shattering and significant as the events are, it reflects a history that many do not know but all should understand.

The creation of the museum is, in part, being driven by the urgent need for a comprehensive dialogue on the political, racial and economic history of not only New Hanover County but also North Carolina and its ongoing impact.

It will serve as a response to the community’s and nation’s call for deeper historical insight and reconciliation. We are at a juncture where understanding our collective past is imperative to shaping a more just and equitable future. This history is not just for African Americans but every American who believes in the core values of democracy and who are curious about how something so egregious and unthinkable can happen. And then how it can be all but lost to the collective consciousness of a place but leave deep wounds and scars on a significant segment of the community.

Our mission with the Wilmington 1898 Museum is multi-faceted. We aim to provide a space for reflection and education, where the true story of the 1898 events is told unflinchingly. By focusing on narratives that have been silenced, the museum seeks to honor the memory of those who suffered and to challenge the misconceptions that persist in historical accounts.

Our brains are hardwired for stories and seek to create simple narratives. We hope to help tell stories that push us to not only understand the facts of the story but lead us to ask why this can happen in a community that was thriving for many across lines of race, and how do we make sure nothing like this happens again.

The museum will also serve as a dynamic hub for community engagement, offering educational programs that foster a critical understanding of how past injustices continue to affect present social and political landscapes. It is envisioned as a place where dialogues are launched and diverse community voices can converge to forge paths toward healing.

I have been asked why I am a part of this effort.

I must first say I am one of several community members who have taken this effort on. But my commitment is both professional and profoundly personal. When I arrived in Wilmington in March of 2022 I was told about, confided in, and warned about the community’s ongoing struggles with the legacies of 1898.

I came with a researcher’s understanding of the events and impact. But living here gave me an understanding that has both been painful but also hopeful. Painful because so much has been lost for many and many still feel the loss as if it happened recently. And hopeful because there is a desire by many to heal this community for all.

I am proud to work alongside the founder and advisory board member Leigh Carter and the remaining outstanding advisory board members LaToia Brown, Inez Campbell Eason, John Monteith and Fawn Rhodes.

Personally, participating in the creation of the Wilmington 1898 Museum is a responsibility I embrace with solemnity and hope. It is about more than building a museum; it is about crafting a space that can potentially reshape community narratives and promote a deeper, actionable understanding of democracy.

All voices matter, and every contribution, no matter how small, plays a part in the healing process. This museum is a testament to the power of truth in paving the way for genuine reconciliation and lasting change. Let us come together to support this vital work.

Organizers last month announced plans for the Wilmington 1898 Museum for Healing, Education and Democracy at the intersection of Third and Davis streets, with an opening expected in the spring of 2028. William Buster, former president and CEO of the New Hanover Community Endowment, is the project’s lead consultant.