Emerson Bentley was a White teacher who was teaching African American children in Louisiana. Bentley was very involved in the African American community, as he and a few others moved to help emancipated African Americans find jobs, become politically active, and access education. Emerson Bentley felt positive about the state’s future since new laws were passed that allowed men to seek jobs and education regardless of color. Unfortunately, in September of 1968 Bentley received a threatening message. He then was murdered by White supremacists.  Henry Clay Warmoth was a republican who won state governorship of Louisiana. He was governor during the time the Opelousas Massacre happened. 

The Opelousas Massacre happened in September of 1868. A group of white men who were armed tormented African American families and killed men, women, and children, leaving around  150 people deceased. There were executions and many believed this was encouraging a wave of anti- Black violence.