Insight | Black Feather Mardi Gras Indians

The history of Mardi Gras Indians has been shrouded in mystery and folklore since they began taking to the streets in the mid-19th century. There is a reason for that. The rituals of these tribes aren’t for sale. In fact, very little profit comes from being a Mardi Gras Indian, but the love of New Orleans and the ancestry it affords is more than enough for the men and women keeping this tradition alive. Dressing up in full regalia to celebrate festivals like Super Sunday is a point of pride for them.

[Ronaldo-rthl]

We need to start taking more pride in our culture and heritage before it dies out ‼️‼️

[a.taylor]

THANK YOU, Mardi Gras Indians, for continuing to display and celebrate inspirations from our African roots!!

[profitmakr]

Beautiful African American tradition! Beautiful costumes like the Caribbean. Love it! Don't ever let this die!

[thestormlscoming]

Thank you for sharing! Such an amazing tradition. I want to hear more of their songs!

[DomesticTruther]

Amazing. Learned about this watching Treme....

[enrique]

I want to thank treme on hbo for introducing me to this

[dj_mylord]

I love my tribal peoples from Louisiana… Alexandria 318

[elizabethkelley]

Thank you for showing the rest of us the so called black our culture.

[shannon]

I'm smiling cruising down memory lane.
I forgot to remember when I once visited my grandmother's brother Uncle Charlie's place and he was sewing one of the costumes. He always called all the kids Little fu**ers and ran us off. But that day, he was nice. He lived in that Guste highrise by the melpomene projects.
I saw it and told him I want one, and he looked at me with that one raised eyebrow and told me...
"You can't do this! It takes from one season to the next season to create a costume. Who going to do it for you, not me! And if you put one on, and you come across someone and they start speaking the language and you can't answer them back...they going to beat your A$$!"
That happened in the late 70s, never thought about it again til now.

[BillieFingers]

Any good book recommendations on the history of madi gras and the Indians?

[BeyRock]

That looks like Bronx N.Y. and Harlem in 70

[ChocolateCityGirl]

My late mum is red feather My pop says black feather.

[denisemitchell]

Gday luv
I fancy when the Chiefs educate about the history
Osiyo Hello Cherokee
UWODUHI beautiful
Tusti tutsiwoni Tsalagi I speak a little Cherokee
Wado thank you
Second Generation Cherokee
Third Generation Cree
Family married into the Shinnecock Nation