Tradition
Few, if any, pictures of the Black Masking Indians exist outside of family and neighborhood mementos from the early 1900s to the 1960s. Their traditions and rituals were as elusive as finding the origin of the sounds of a brass trumpet floating on the wind. Masking brought a sense of anonymity sec, security, and empowerment to the practicing tribes. On Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras Day, and St. Joseph’s Night, hundreds venture into the streets, often staying out late. Their routes were not public knowledge, and frequently, the only member who knew where they would parade was the Big Chief himself. It was, and still is, considered an insult to the tribes to be forced to obtain permits for their ancestral activities. The spontaneity of their parades is part of the ritual practice, and they do not want to be oppressed. Traditionally, Black Masking Indians only paraded their wards on Mardi Gras Day, St. Joseph’s night. Additionally, they will have a mass gathering on Super Sunday so all the tribes can compete together without the rigors of parading. When one tribe comes upon another, a symbolic battle takes place.
Photo By: MJ Mastrogiovanni. Comanche Hunters
Sew, Sew, Sew
Soon after St. Joseph’s Night on March 19th, after a well-earned break, Black Masking Indians begin working on their suits for the following year. Over the coming months, tribe members will spend thousands of hours and dollars sewing together intricate beadwork, sequences, feathers, and marabou to construct a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Each suit has a spiritual meaning to its creator and is rarely, if ever, worn again after CArnival. The commitment and dedication of participants cannot be understated. It is a rigorous, time-consuming endeavor, with months spent working towards being the prettiest Indian to come out on Mardi Gras in the morning. A suit begins with a vision using beading styles passed down from African ancestors and mentors for generations. A completed suit can weigh over seventy pounds and tower over an average-height man.
Photo By: Grete Viddal. Big Chief Lil’ Charles Taylor of the White Cloud Hunters, sewing his 2019 suit.
Indian Practice
Once a week, each tribe member takes a break, harkening to the ancestral days of Congo Square, to meet on Sunday for Indian Practice. This part of the tradition is just as, if not more, important as the spirituality that goes into the making of suits. Indian Practice is building and growing a community with a sense of self-respect and honor. The next generation is taught the musicality of being part of a tribe through these practices. Drums and tambourines dominate alongside practicing the call and response chants, which will be used to communicate between tribe members on parade. In addition, there are sewing lessons for anyone who wants to learn the craft.
Photo by: Unnamed WPA Photographer. March, 1942. Yellow Pocahontas Indians at the residence of Chief Paul Joseph.
A Price to Pay
The majority of tribe members do not come from affluent neighborhoods. They are all working men, most with families, and commit themselves and their tribe members to months of grueling, hard work. They sacrifice time, energy, and money to pursue their goals. Being a Black Masking Indian was not always about the artful, glamorous, show-stopping craftsmanship we see today. For decades, part of the tradition consisted of settling vendettas between rival tribes. Guns, knives, and other weapons led to many injuries and fear of the "Wild Indians" coming your way. Chief of Chiefs, Big Chief Allison "Tootie" Montana, and a coalition of Big Chiefs were able to transform the culture into the competition of beauty of modern Black Masking using a needle as their weapon.
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Photo By: Homer Emory Turner. Two Mardi Gras Indians circa 1950.
