The First Elected Black Lt. Governor Visits the U.S. Congress & Is Promptly Insulted

Oscar James Dunn (pictured above) was the first African American elected Lt. Governor in the United States. In 1869 he visited the United States Congress where he received a warm welcome from civil rights advocates like Senator Charles Sumner. This Southern newspaper relates the reaction of a Democratic Senator from Kentucky to the black elected official.

Mobile Register
Saturday, Apr 10, 1869
Mobile, AL
Vol: II
Issue: 61
Page:2

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Author: Patrick Young

1 thought on “The First Elected Black Lt. Governor Visits the U.S. Congress & Is Promptly Insulted

  1. It reminds me of excerpts from the debate on Plessis v. Ferguson. The Southern senators were all speaking about a “right to hate”.

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