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The Center for Politics at the University of Virginia

Wilder: An American First

Wilder: An American First” explores how Douglas Wilder, an independent, controversial leader became one of the world’s most powerful black politicians without ever embracing the evangelical messages popular among other African-American leaders. Combining narration, interviews, archival footage, news clips and photographs, this compelling historical biography looks closely at Wilder’s early years, his rise in state government, and the narrow, and heated, 1989 race for governor. “WILDER: An American First” also addresses his failed campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination and his newest role in public service as the first popularly-elected mayor of Richmond in 50 years.

UVA Center for Politics
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