Oscar J. Dunn, the first African American elected as Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana (and the highest-ranking Black elected official in U.S. history at the time), died suddenly in New Orleans during a political power struggle. His unexpected death at age 49 led to suspicions of poisoning, particularly from his aides and supporters, although no official cause was ever confirmed.
Dunn had been a strong advocate for Black civil rights, public education, and Radical Republican Reconstruction policies. His leadership threatened both white supremacists and conservative factions, and his death marked a turning point in the political instability of post-Civil War Louisiana.
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