Newyorker.com: Mardi Gras Indians Do Battle, by Dan Baum

New Orleans, LA, February 20, 2007: Surrounded by cheering, drumming, chanting people, the two chiefs postured and danced in place. Then, in a ritual as solemn as two knights squaring off, they danced toward each other until they were face to face, their headdresses and bustles coming together and all but hiding the two men inside.... Read more from Dan Baum at www.newyorker.com.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NewOrleans
• MardisGras
• Indians
• dance
• headdress
• Louisiana
• newyorker

[pookoos]

Oy. The whole tradition came about as a result of African slaves and Native tribes allying and eventually intermarrying waaaaaaaay back in the 1700s. There's nothing offensive about it. What I find interesting is that style wise the "Indian" is really a hell of a lot more African in style, with ostrich plumes and clearly an African look. I'm proudly mixed Tunica-Biloxi and Creole, and it's really ignorant to just assume it to be offensive or any kind of parody.

[liljjjj]

No it's not, like most of New Orleanians thd Native Americans assimilated into our African ancestors cultures & interbreeded!

[CVNHOUSTON]

@redgreengrrl This is not offensive. 100s of years ago, Native Americans gave runaway slaves in New Orleans refuge. Eventually they intermarried and merged musical styles. Some of those chants are over 200 years old spoken with a new language (New Orleans Creole) made from African, French, and native American words. Most of us down here are also a racial mixture of those people too.

**SOURCE: ME AND MY FAMILY, NATIVE NEW ORLEANIANS !***

[jtkalehua]

I wish I lived in New Orleans, I love the culture of the people down there. It's like a whole other country wit it's own culture, creoles, music, customs, etc. I'm from the west coast, and as much as my heart will always be in the bay, shit I still wish I could experience the New Orleans culture first hand.

[Ms504cp3]

Why comment on something u know nothing about. Half of new orleans is african/indian, I am also from a huge family that was started by a white man, so I'm black/indian and white, and u can kiss all sides of my ass. Not ashamed of my background at all. @ reddgreenbitch.

[Anike82]

I'm sorry. I was directing that statement to redgreengrrl.

[sp0ttedp0ny330]

@redgreengrrl offensive to whom? its part of our history and culture...we're PROUD TO BE CAJUN/NDN...CREOLE/NDN...AFRIC­AN/NDN...ITS HOW WE HONOR OUR ANCESTORS!!! nope its not "traditional" aka hollywood stereotype of how all the ORIGINAL People live...but its OURS!! Dance on Brothers & Sisters!!!!! Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!!!!

[sp0ttedp0ny330]

@Anike82 sorry, but how dare who? you don't think/know that MANY Cajun, Creole, former Black slaves inter-mixed with the Nations in LA? its part of OUR history...proud to be CAJUN/NDN!!

[dramatim]

I'm not from La and I've never been to New Orleans (although I will someday) and I know about the indians and blacks joining forces. I think it's totally awesome that something that can be documented so far back is still alive today. My husband (who is black) said that he can't believe America actually has traditions still. So many traditons or past times are being forgotten by the narrowminded folk out there who are afraid of the possiblity of standing out on the streets instead of blending in.

[purpleknightmom]

Yall, ignore the comments from people who obviously know NOTHING about Louisiana history. They know nothing of the Indians of the Bayous of Louisiana and how they helped slaves escape and many married blacks. I am black (NOLA born and bred) and my grandmother who passed in the 1960's (rest her soul) was 100% Choctaw. My mom is half black/half Choctaw. No one wants to believe that Indians married and had children with blacks but, it was a common occurrence here in Louisiana, especially NOLA.

[theyarebirds]

not all rock is soulless!

[bublycat]

Shut up you racist Nazi!!!