Alexander Manly (April 19 1860 – January 8 1944) was an African‑American journalist and newspaper publisher best known for editing The Daily Record, a Black newspaper in Wilmington, North Carolina, during the late 19th century. His editorial work, particularly a 1898 article defending African‑American men’s relationships with white women, contributed to the political tensions that culminated in the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898—a violent coup d’état that overthrew the city’s elected government and resulted in the expulsion and killing of many Black residents.
Early Life and Education
- Born in Columbia, South Carolina, to freed‑enslave parents.
- Received a basic education in local schools and later attended an industrial institute in Washington, D.C.
Career
- Relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina, in the 1880s, where he worked various jobs before entering journalism.
- In 1891, he became the editor of The Daily Record, which was founded by Alderman J. B. Johnson and served the African‑American community with news, editorials, and advertisements.
- The newspaper advocated for civil rights, political participation, and economic advancement for Black citizens.
1898 Editorial and Aftermath
- In August 1898, Manly published an editorial responding to a white supremacist pamphlet that alleged Black men were exploiting white women. His article argued that consensual relationships existed and criticized the hypocrisy of the white press.
- The editorial provoked outrage among white supremacists, who used it as a pretext for mobilizing the “White League” and other groups.
- During the Wilmington Insurrection (also known as the Wilmington Massacre), white mobs attacked Black neighborhoods, destroyed The Daily Record’s offices, and forced Manly and other Black leaders into exile. Manly fled to New York City to avoid violent reprisals.
Later Life
- Settled in New York, where he worked as a typesetter and continued involvement in Black journalism and community affairs.
- Authored a memoir, The Wilmington Race Riot of 1898, which documented the events and offered his perspective on the causes and consequences.
- Died in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944.
Legacy
- Manly’s experience is frequently cited in studies of post‑Reconstruction racial violence, the suppression of Black press, and the broader history of disenfranchisement in the American South.
- His newspaper and editorial stance have been recognized as early examples of African‑American resistance to white supremacist propaganda.
- In 2006, the state of North Carolina erected a historical marker acknowledging the 1898 insurrection and Manly’s role in it.
References
- The Wilmington Race Riot of 1898, Alexander Manly, 1899.
- Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Z. Wise, 2008.
- North Carolina Historical Markers, “The Wilmington Insurrection of 1898.”
All information presented is based on documented historical records and scholarly research.