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A “cultural revolution on wheels.” That's how the Krewe of ALLA describes its Mardi Gras parade this year. Named in honor of Algiers, La., the 93-year-old New Orleans krewe rolls through The Krewe of Bosom Buddies & Breast Friends is a walking krewe that parades in the French Quarter on the Friday before Mardi Gras. Founded in 2013, they set out to create “a laid-back, inexpensive, fun, colorful and fearless walking krewe full of fabulous women and the men who support them.&rd Over time, these traditions became some of the most important parts of Black Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club: A Black Mardi Gras Icon. One of the most famous Black Mardi Gras krewes is the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club. Formed in 1909, Zulu began as a satirical response to the elite white krewes. Le Krewe D’Etat, whose symbol is a skeleton skull wearing a jester’s cap is led each year by a group called “The Skeleton Krewe” whose costumes resemble the early boney ramblers. Another group, the Bywater Boneboys, prowl the street on Mardi Gras though its maskers are not necessarily all-Black. Mardi Gras Indians: Composed mainly of Black men from the inner wards of New Orleans, the Mardi Gras Indians are not your average krewe, if a krewe at all. The community named themselves after various neighborhood wards in New Orleans, as well as after Native Indians who assisted them out of slavery during its height. The krewe says Durand and Carter’s selection as royalty represents a new era for Mardi Gras, a direct reflection of Taylor’s vision for an inclusive and representative celebration. Thirty-two years after Taylor’s groundbreaking ordinance, the Krewe of Alla is embracing progress by recognizing Black leadership in its most honored roles. In December of 1991, New Orleans City Council voted to desegregate Mardi Gras krewes, which had remained largely white with the exception of a few Black krewes, including the Zulu club. The Krewe of Bosom Buddies & Breast Friends is a walking krewe that parades in the French Quarter on the Friday before Mardi Gras. Founded in 2013, they set out to create “a laid-back, inexpensive, fun, colorful and fearless walking krewe full of fabulous women and the men who support them.&rd *The Mardi Gras Indians are celebrated on this date (Fat Tuesday) in 1732. These African Americans participate as a cultural foundation of New Orleans and Mardi gras history. The Mardi Gras Indians are as much a part of that secret society as any other carnival organization. The heritage of the Mardi Gras Indians is an African based long and hard road, starting in late 1600's with the Indian LAFAYETTE, La. Lafayette’s oldest African American Mardi Gras krewe has crowned its royalty. The Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Inc. has crowned its 64th king and queen. In addition to being the first Black Mardi Gras organization to throw parades on a scale to match the old-line krewes, as the Zulu Club’s own historians Clarence A. Becknell, Thomas Price, and Don Short recount, they were the first Black krewe to share the Canal Street route in the late 1960s (from which all Black Mardi Gras organizations had A new signature throw for Excalibur will be an 8-inch hand-decorated Dragon Egg and hand-decorated wooden shields. Excalibur rolls February 21 at 7 p.m. during Family Gras. Krewe of Paws. Mardi Gras has gone to the dogs! The Krewe of Paws will parade Saturday, February 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Olde Town Slidell. It was not until 1992 that New Orleans passed legislation to desegregate Mardi Gras krewes, which remained largely or exclusively white with the exception of a few Black krewes founded in a complicated response to segregation and discrimination. Mardi Gras, ZULU Parade, 2012 (Photo: bradleyscircus, Flickr). “Back then, Mardi Gras wasn’t inclusive of our community due to segregation, so our club created its own celebration, one that has thrived for over a century.” A Historical Celebration. Known as the largest Black Mardi Gras parade, the Krewe of Zulu highlights a rich legacy, with iconic figures like Louis Armstrong serving as King Zulu in The mission of the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale is to offer women of all creeds and colors a unique opportunity to promote and support New Orleans’ cultural landscape through participation in the annual Mardi Gras season while uplifting the community through various endeavors of engagement, awareness and social enhancement in order to further the growth of the organization. For Black New Orleanians, Mardi Gras is a sacred tradition rooted in resistance, with an instinctive routine and complex history. In 1901, Zulu–the all-Black krewe and Social Aid and
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Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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