AP Radio Mardu Gras Reporter: "Up at 4 AM to put on our blackface and Afro wigs"

Doctor Raoul

[Cowboy Bob]

That's why Dorothy Mae Taylor and her crusade to bust up the old-line (subtext: "white") Krewes was so offensive.

What ever happened with that? I did hear that Rex was forced to take in some Black members.

Did Dorothy Mae try to force the Tchoupitoulas Indians to take on any White members?

[Doctor Raoul]

In the Zulu Parade in New Orleans, even the Blacks wear blackface and Afro wigs.

That would make a liberal's head explode.

[SuziQ]

Foster laughed and responded that she had to get up at 4am at the hotel so that they could, "...put on our blackface and Afro wigs."

Sounds like they were going to participate in the Zulu parade, which starts at the docks at the crack of dawn. Nothing racist about it.

[SuziQ]

Do they still throw coconuts at parade goers?

[Rockingham]

The reference to black-face makeup was benign and unique to the Zulu parade during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club has been an honored if off beat feature of Mardi Gras in New Orleans for decades. Zulu was originally all black and blue collar, but in recent years has admitted whites, professionals, and affluent businessmen.

Despite Zulu's new cachet, by long tradition, to spoof the elitist features of Mardi Gras, Zulu members on parade wear grass skirts and minstrel style black-face makeup with white highlights. As a concession to tamer times, Zulu members no longer throw their prized painted coconuts to parade crowds but pass them out along the route.

Here is the official history note for Zulu:

http://www.kreweofzulu.com/Krewe-Of-Zulu/History-Of-the-Zulu-Social-Aid-&-Pleasure-Club.html

[Charles Martel]

What ever happened with that? I did hear that Rex was forced to take in some Black members.

Rex did sign the ordinance. I don't recall the percentages required, but I believe Rex is complying. When Taylor pushed that stuff through in 1992, Comus, Proteus and Momus (three of the oldest carnival krewes) refused to participate and retired from parading. Three or so womens' organizations folded that same year - can't recall those names.

Some years later, Proteus caved and signed the ordinance so they could resume parading.

I believe Dorothy Mae's target wasn't originally the carnival krewes, but the old private luncheon clubs downtown. When the clubs wouldn't budge, she went after the parades with which the the same people were involved.

Hers was a Phyrric victory, because while the carnival clubs became "open to new members", most of the luncheon clubs simply shut down.