Oscar Dunn’s trajectory from slave to political leader is remarkable. And along the way, his mission was to raise up those around him: he worked to ensure that the voting rights of newly freed African Americans weren’t scuttled, and to make sure their work contracts were fair. Dunn’s sudden death remains a bit of a mystery, as well as what happened to the money allotted to build him a commemorative statue. If a statue for Octavius Catto, the civil rights activist in Philadelphia, could be erected more than 100 years later, perhaps better late than never can work for Dunn, too. New Orleans, what gives?
