Who are the Mardi Gras Indians?

[kestrell]

If you're listening to WWOZ.org you may hear about the Mardi Gras Indians, which are the highlight for many New Orleanians. Here are a couple of videos to explain about the Indians

How Mardi Gras Indians Rebel Against History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffn_bo9nuY8

Black Masking Indians: A historical New Orleans Carnival tradition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsOxxz4h1rU

Yesterday was Lundi Gras, and a lot of the Indians were still working on their suits right through from yesterday until this morning.
A song I heard dedicated to them was
Glue Stick Situation by Alex McMurray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY39TmWVFuk

The first song many people hear on Mardi Gras morning is
Indian Red
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayr-Sp944J0
which is
a traditional chant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Red#:~:text=Indian%20Red%20is%20traditionally%20sung,Gras%20Indians%20in%20New%20Orleans.
sung at the beginning of gatherings of Mardi Gras Indians

The compliment you give a Mardi Gras Indian who has made a suit that you think is exceptionally beautiful is "You're the prettiest!" (I love the fact that this is a culturally acceptable thing to say to men during Mardi Gras.)