8. Opelousas (Louisiana)
In 1868, Opelousas, Louisiana, became the scene of one of Reconstruction’s most violent episodes. Political tensions exploded as white mobs brutally attacked Black residents, burning their homes and businesses. The massacre left more than 200 Black people dead and the community shattered. The devastation effectively erased the once-growing Black presence in Opelousas, leaving a legacy of fear and loss that endured for generations. Read about the massacre at BlackPast
