There is much more to Mardi Gras than meets the eye. There are societies, traditions, and an entire hierarchy that is behind the celebration. The issue with these Mardi Gras societies is that, for the most part, they are still segregated.
We watched a movie highlighting this segregation and it was disturbing to say the least. The two societies were aware of each other, but never intended to mix- mainly from the white side. The white hierarchy was made up of a king and a queen that were almost pedigreed to become Mardi Gras royalty. They had lavish parties and a very big social life before the start of Mardi Gras. The African American society was more family oriented and it seemed to be more of an all-encompassing community event.
The most disturbing thing to me was the wait staff at the white parties. The fact that the queen's family was a former slave owner is just the icing on the racism plate. In one scene they have all African-American men wearing tiny cowboy hats serving the food and cleaning up.
Although we are very focused on being a free and equal society, acts like these prove this sentiment to be false.
Yes, it was hard not to notice that almost everyone who served the white revelers was black....
ReplyDeleteBefore watching the video, I had no idea that people still behaved that way and they really think that it is OK! The video made me feel very uncomfortable just watching. I thought that Mardi Gras was only celebrated in New Orleans, I didn't know that communities like Mobile, had their own parades. These parades are segregated. The white community parades first and they refuse to throw any beads or candy at the black children. when their parade is over, they have no need for their floats, so they rent their useless floats to the black community. Why wouldn't they give them the floats, they obviously have much more money to work with. At the white ball, there were black servers. If you are going to segregate, then serve your own damn beverages. Have white servers for the white ball and black for they black. Personally, I do not think that segregation in any form is constitutional. This situation makes me mad; it is just perpetuating the feelings of superiority and degradation.Just because they have done it for hundreds of years doesn't make it right.
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