For more than three decades, attorney Mary Howell has been at the frontlines of police misconduct and civil rights litigation in New Orleans. She has represented plaintiffs in the Algiers police rampage of 1980, the killing of Adolph Archie in 1990, and the execution of Kim Groves by order of policeman Len Davis in 1994. [...]
Tag Archives: Mardi Gras Indians
Memorial for Flagboy Charles Anthony “Bubblegum” Robertson of the Yellow Pocahontas: Photos
December 21, 2011 – 2:30 pm
The Yellow Pocahontas Mardi Gras Indian tribe paid respect to its late Flagboy, Charles Anthony “Bubblegum” Robertson, on Saturday, December 17 at a funeral service at Charbonnet-Labat-Glapion Funeral Home in Treme. Born on September 19, 1955 in New Orleans, Robertson graduated from McDonogh #35 High School and worked for the Sewerage & Water Board for [...]
Junebug Productions Hosts Second Line and Dance Party Fundraiser
December 1, 2011 – 6:17 pm
Long-running community theater organization Junebug Productions hosts an ambitious second line Saturday, December 3, as part of an ongoing storytelling and performance series, the Homecoming Project. The second line, led by the Hot 8 Brass Band, includes theatrical and musical performances as well as street art installations along the route created by artist Ron Bechet’s [...]
Funeral for “Coach” Lewis Saturday
August 12, 2011 – 5:22 pm
On Friday, August 5, Collins “Coach” Lewis died of what was believed to have been an aneurysm at 62. Lewis made his mark sewing Mardi Gras Indian suits and as a drummer for Spirit of Fi-Yi-Yi and Mandingo Warriors, and his funeral will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. at Charbonnet-Labat-Glapion Funeral Home (1615 St. Philip [...]
YouTube du Jour: House of Dance and Feathers
August 3, 2011 – 11:32 am
Tonight, the Asante Awards take place at the Mahalia Jackson Theater honoring creativity in New Orleans’ African-American community. One of the honorees is Ronald Lewis, the curator of the House of Dance and Feathers, the second line culture museum in the Lower Ninth Ward. Here Lewis talks about his museum to Chuck Perkins in footage [...]
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Won’t Bow Down (f.Boo Music)
August 1, 2011 – 12:56 am
With the Wild Magnolias albums, Willie Tee created a template for Mardi Gras Indian funk that reverberates to this day, a time that finds an unprecedented number of Indians onstage and recording. We’re fortunate to have Monk Boudreaux still on the street as well as on this new album, which includes several possible innovations to [...]
Black Feather Big Chief Lionel Delpit Funeral Procession: Photos
July 18, 2011 – 4:25 pm
Lionel Delpit, Big Chief of the Black Feather Mardi Gras Indian tribe passed away at the age of 54. First masking Indian with the Yellow Pocahontas under Big Chief Tootie Montana, Delpit helped co-found the Black Feather in 1992. Saturday, July 16, a large crowd walked with the Stooges Brass Band (whose leader, Walter Ramsey, [...]
Feast of St. Henry’s: Photos
July 11, 2011 – 3:22 pm
Saturday, July 9, St. Henry’s Church uptown held their 22nd annual summer feast. The afternoon featured musical performances by J. Monque’ D Blues Band and Big Chief Howard Miller of the Creole Wild West, who lay claim to being the oldest Mardi Gras Indian tribe today. It wouldn’t be a feast with only the food [...]
Spyboy Ricky on Ice
July 1, 2011 – 12:05 am
[UPDATED] Spyboy Ricky Gettridge, a New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian associated with the Yellow Pocahontas, tried to vote on May 16, 2011. He was denied the right to vote and arrested shortly after. According to Delores Antoine, Gettridge’s former spouse and now close friend, “In 2002, Ricky was placed on probation for two years [...]
Bo Dollis Awarded 2011 NEA National Heritage Fellowship
June 23, 2011 – 9:30 pm
Today, Bo Dollis of the Wild Magnolias was awarded an NEA National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. He is joined by Texas quilter Laverne Brackens, Arizona folklorist Jim Griffith, California Taiko drum leaders Roy and PJ Hirabayashi, Hawaiian ukulele and slack key guitarist Ledward Kaapana, Virginia Old Regular Baptist [...]
