Are Mardi Gras Indians (Black Masking Indians) Appropriating Native American Cultures? (video and comments)

CBS Mornings, Mar 26, 2022

Last weekend, Super Sunday was celebrated in New Orleans. It is the day when African American revelers, known as Mardi Gras Indians, parade through town in their hand-made costumes. Michelle Miller has more on the history of the group.

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - May 2, 2023

This pancocojams post showcases a 2022 segment from CBS Morning about the Mardi Gras Indians.

The comments quoted in this post focus on the question "Are Mardi Gras Indians appropriating Native American cultures?"

This post also presents my editorial notes about the meanings of "masking" as it refers to the Mardi Gras Indians.

Addendum #1 to this post presents a small segment from a 2021 Louisiana State Museum zoom discussion with the authors of the 2019 book Jockomo: The Native Roots of Mardi Gras Indians.

Addendum #2 presents a comments from another YouTube video about the African/Congo Square influences on Mardi Gras Indians.

Addendum #3 presents comments from another YouTube video from people who assert that Mardi Gras Indians aren't appropriating Native American cultures because Mardi Gras Indians (and most other Black people in the United States) are the true indigenous people in the United States. These commenters maintain that they were always here [in the Americans] and have nothing to do with Africa. 

Addendum #4 presents a complete reprint of an American Library Association online article entitled "Indigenous Tribes Of New Orleans And Louisiana [no publishing date is given for this essay.]   

For more of the subject of Native Americans and Mardi Gras Indians, read the comments that are found in the comment section of this pancocojams post.

The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the Mardi Gras Indians and thanks to all those who were associated with this television segment. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/05/jockomo-native-roots-of-mardi-gras.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled “Jockomo: The Native Roots of Mardi Gras Indians" (YouTube Zoom Discussion With Some Quotes & Paraphrased Discussion).That post includes quotes and paraphrased statements about why the Mardi Gras Indians masked as Indians (indigenous people). 

Other pancocojams post about Mardi Gras Indians can be found by clicking the tags below or by googling Mardi Gras Indians pancocojams.

****

WHAT DOES "MASKING" MEAN FOR BLACK MASKING INDIANS (also known as "Mardi Gras Indians)?

The Mardi Gras Indians are also known as "Black masking Indians". Based on some YouTube discussion thread comments that I have read, since around 2020 "Black Masking Indians" appears to be the referent that is most favored by this population. 

In the context of the Black masking Indians", the word "masking" comes from the word "masquerade".

Here's a definition of the word "masquerade" from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masquerade :

"a social gathering of persons wearing masks and often fantastic costumes"
-end of quote-

During New Orleans Mardi Gras, ",,,carnival groups create a collective identity through costuming". https://lsupress.org/books/detail/baby-dolls/#:~:text=The%20Baby%20Dolls%20formed%20around,Black%20prostitutes%20on%20Mardi%20Gras.

 "Masking" for Black masking Indians means wearing costumes that evoke [for them and their onlookers] Plains Indian ceremonial attire and/or West African ceremonial and Caribbean [carnival] attire.

One phrase that appears to be used for Mardi Gras Indian masking is "playing Indian". Here's an example of that phrase from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY2E7hqBDbI "New Orleans Mardi Gras Day 2017 9th Ward Black Hatchets"

Chatawbraves, 2017,
"I LIKE TO SEE EVERYBODY PLAY INDIAN ECPECIALLY THE QUEEN'S YESS YESS  ! ALL QUEEN'S FROM  BOTH TRIBES PLAYED THEIR ROLE YESS YESS !"...
-end of quote-
In the context of Mardi Gras Indians, "playing Indian" means to dress like Plains Indians dressed during a period of time when those Indians-and not the Indians who lived in Louisiana wore feathered head dresses. Read https://www.quora.com/Did-all-Native-Americans-wear-feathers for comments about when Plains Indians wore feathers.

Here's an excerpt from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras_Indians about the history of Black people from New Orleans encounters with Plains Indians: 

As a major southern trade port, New Orleans became a cultural melting pot.

During the late 1740s and 1750s, many enslaved Africans fled to the bayous of Louisiana where they encountered Native Americans. Years later, after the Civil War, hundreds of freed slaves joined the U.S. Ninth Cavalry Regiment, also known as Buffalo Soldiers.[2] The Buffalo Soldiers fought, killed, forced, and aided the mass removal and relocation of the Plains Indians on the Western Frontier. After returning to New Orleans, many ex-soldiers joined popular Wild West shows, most notably Buffalo Bill's Wild West.[2] The show wintered in New Orleans from 1884 to 1885 and was hailed by the Daily Picayune as "the people's choice". There was at least one black cowboy in the show, and there were numerous black cowhands.[4]

On Mardi Gras in 1885, 50 to 60 Plains Indians marched in native dress on the streets of New Orleans. Later that year, it is believed the first Mardi Gras Indian gang was formed; the tribe was named "The Creole Wild West" and was most likely composed of members of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.[2] However, the "Indian gangs" might predate their appearance in the City. A source from 1849 refers to black performers on Congo Square fully covered in "the plumes of the peacock.”[5]"...
-snip-
"Playing Indian" doesn't mean that these roles weren't (aren't) taking seriously. The 2022 YouTube video entitled https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gx2WDAPwX4 "It's Your Glory -The Queens Of Carnival" includes this statement beginning at .28 from Queen Cherise Harrison-Nelson (Guardians of the Flame) :

"This tradition is a way for me to connect myself physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually back to my ancestral homeland one bead at a time. You tried to sever those ties. But I found a way".
-snip-
In that quote, the phrase "my ancestral homeland" refers to Africa. The Guardians of the Flame" Mardi Gras Indian tribe is one that emphasizes their members' African ancestry. For the Black masking Indians that emphasize their Native American connections (through their bloodlines and/or as homage to Native Americans for helping enslaved people who fled slavery) Queen Cherise Harrison-Nelson's quote might be "This tradition is a way for me to connect myself physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually back to my Native American ancestors and/or to Native Americans who helped those ancestors one bead at a time."    

This quote from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras_Indians refers to the ranked characters in Mardi Gras Indian groups:
..."The Mardi Gras Indians play various traditional roles. Many blocks ahead of the Indians are plain clothed informants keeping an eye out for any danger. The procession begins with "spyboys," dressed in light "running suits" that allow them the freedom to move quickly in case of emergency.[2] Next comes the "first flag," an ornately dressed Indian carrying a token tribe flag.[2] Closest to the "Big Chief" is the "Wildman" who usually carries a symbolic weapon.[2] Finally, there is the "Big Chief." The "Big Chief" decides where to go and which tribes to meet (or ignore). The entire group is followed by percussionists and revelers.[2]"...

-end of quote-

[Addition and corrections are welcome for this explanation.]

****

****

SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

This compilation includes almost all of the comments that were posted in this discussion thread as of May 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awMFbUYF24Y

2022

Tasha w
"Isn't this cultural cultural appropriation? @Cbs Mornings. Why don't have invite real Native American chiefs to share their stories presently in 2022 as well?"

**
Reply
make it make sense
"Did you watch the piece? Obviously you didn't because if you had you would know the answer to your question!

It's your laziness for me

It's your desire for a gotcha moment for me

It's your racism"

**
Kate
"This an insult to real Native Americans to these America's"

**
Reply
make it make sense
"How?"

**
Reply
The Dance Standard
"For your information, some masking Indians are Native American by blood. Know what you say before you speak."

**
Reply
RealShahO
"Actually it is not. This tradition began to honor the indigenous Americans who saved our ancestors that were runaway slaves. It dates back to the 1800s and many of the people who participate are Afro-indigenous themselves, including myself and my family. Please do your research. We have also been celebrated and thanked by Indigenous groups across the US for honoring their ancestors and showing the world our strength and survival despite colonialism."

**
Reply
MelaninGod504, 2023
"@The Dance Standard   you also have Black Indians from New Orleans and Louisiana that is the first Natives of this Land(i.e. Folsom People) before the Red man indian."

**
Reply
MelaninGod504, 2023
"It's an insult that the 5 civilized tribes. didn't compensate the reparations that was owed to the Black slaves the indians owned. descendants of Slaves is still waiting for their ancestors reservations,land,casinos,banks,etc.

1866 Indian  Treaties which was passed by Congress but never was established."

**
Reply
RealShahO, 2023
"@MelaninGod504  IN THAT ORDER👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽"

**
make it make sense
" @Kate  how is the culture being stolen? Again did you watch the piece?

The American Descendant of Slaves community in New Orleans is honoring the native - specifically Seminole community - for their willingness to not only assist the enslaved ancestors of those who are Mardi Gras Indians current day to escape slavery but also for teaching the formerly enslaved how to survive in the bayous and swamps of lower Louisiana

It's not my fault, the American Descendant of Slaves community fault or the Indigenous People fault that Europeans decided to be barbarians and force the removal of native people and enslavement of Africans

Anyway don't get mad at history LEARN FROM IT"

**
Reply
make it make sense
"@Kate  PS I'm a Descendant of the Seminole tribe of Louisiana and of the American Descendant of Slaves community and 3rd generation Mardi Gras Indian and have had my familes ancestry investigated by Dr. Henry Louis Gates of Harvard University

So not only do I have my receipts

But again whose stolen history my baby??"

****
ADDENDUM #1

This is a segment of a zoom discussion about the Mardi Grass Indians with Shane Leif and John McCusker, authors of the 2019 book Jockomo: The Native Roots of Mardi Gras Indians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lzfqyHVd6k

1:00:05 - John McCusker's response [to a question about why these groups masked (wore costumes] as Indians.] 
…”Leaving off blood lines and DNA,…if we just go directly to “Why would an African American person in post-Reconstruction New Orleans -meaning 1878- choose on Mardi Gras to costume as an American Indian.   What’s going on around that time?...So what better way-and I’m definitely not one of those people that likes to make Black culture reactions to White people-but in terms of just personal pride, what better character, what character to take on then one who was in active armed conflict with the United States government.   You feel me on that? You are an uniquely American figure, but you were in armed conflict with the United States of American. Sounds like a fellow traveler. So it’s not about- I know there is still a lot of tension about is this a mimicry, is this a pantomime, is this really just a minstrelsy of Indians. But I think if you look at it in the context of the spirit of why those men first masked and would have dressed that way and chosen to conduct- It’s not just the costume, it’s ritualistic almost combative dance…and early on this was defending your neighborhood-…there was shooting, all kind of stories. People ended up in jail….So this was all about identity and pride and Mardi Gras being the vehicle perhaps to be that fellow traveler as a resistance figure"

1:12.15- Shane Leif's response [about this question]:
"One thing I’d like to add is that it’s not just the symbolism that we’re talking about, so to speak to your question about tribal affiliation vs. ancestry, I think that the difficulty there was that people were being told that they were one thing, and they’re actually many things.  In some cases, they may not have known and they may not know just like people with African ancestry won’t always know exactly where all the tribal affiliations or earlier affiliations their ancestors had…The reason why it’s so difficult is that the documentation is lacking there…But I think that the authenticity we might seek from someone who say has lighter skin and who is European American who makes claims about where they are from, the onus is a bit different than on someone who is African American who has a different history of being told that they’re not who they claim to be…For a long time people were told that you’re either this or you’re that. But there’s actually both at the same time. “

1:13:50 -John McCusker's response [about this question]
"Also, you had whole tribes that were actually wiped out….And like Shane said, it’s never one way or the other. …But among the stories that I read, they talk a lot about Eugene Honore in the book. Eugene Honore was 7ft tall. His father fought in the Civil War. He lived in the French Quarter.  And he’s credited by at least a couple of guys as the composer of “Indian Red” [song]. They said that he was mainly-whatever that means-Choctaw Indian and that they called his mom “Miss Choctaw”. And sometimes Eugene would disappear for weeks and go stay somewhere out by Baton Rouge…But it’s not either/or like Shane said. You can have both at the same time, or neither or not."

****
ADDENDUM #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlETXBzPgNk&t=489s "Indian Tribes meet in the Treme on Mardi Gras Day", published by rabbitfist, Feb 25, 2012

Two Indian Tribes meet in the Treme area of New Orleans on Mardi Gras day 2012
-snip-

[selected comments with numbers added for referencing purposes only] 

1. salena gaines, 2012
"There not black native Americans its called African tribes like the Zulu"

**
Reply
2. Stevland Ambrose, 2023
"If that's the case you best go enlighten Wikipedia with your scholarly insight.

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Indians_in_the_United_States

 **
3. 504girl3. 2014
"I hate when people comment on videos about New Orleans but don't know our culture.  This has nothing to do with Africa. We pay tribute to the Native Americans for helping slaves that were escaping slavery, and that's the short version of an entire story."

**
Reply
4. Donald Harrison, Jr, 2014
"To 504girl3, Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr of The Congo Square Nation here responding to your comment. I appreciate and have respect for you idea of New Orleans culture but it is not the same as mine. With my participation in our culture I am paying respect to the African culture that took place in Congo Square and keeping an offshoot New Orleans born faction of those traditions alive. The suits I make is derivative of African traditions.When you look at this video you can see this African influence in my lime green and royal blue suit and the suit of the flag in red and black. The call and response chants we sing are derived from Africa. The drumming is derived of African origin. The dancing style is derived of African origin. The bead style is derived of African traditions. We call what we do Afro-New Orleans culture and many other culural participants share the same perspective as us. I was taught by a lot of older cultural participants including Donald Harrison Sr. who used African images on his suits. I know all these elders are happy that I am keeping this faction alive within our culture. Thank You, Donald Harrison"

**
5. steve boy, 2018
"change the name to black people appropriating native culture"

**
Reply
6. Donald Harrison, Jr, 2019
"The name of my culture is Afro-New Orleans, and

we honor African Americans. We are about Congo Sqaure and don't have anything to do with Native Americans. We respect Native Americans but our suits use plumes which come from Africa. We are Afro-New Orleans Culture which has nothing at all to do with you. Y'all don't play African drums."

****
ADDENDUM #3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZSNWvGj9Wg&t=5s " WE WON'T BOW DOWN" - Documentary Film", published by WeWontBowDown, June 28, 2020

1. hiddenfallsmystic, 2020
"If only some of the folks speaking in the video realize they're an American Aborigine and been lied too about coming from another place, they ancestors been here all along. A lot of what they are attributing in customs to Africa or being from there is not from there it's actually ancient and from right here in the Americas all along."

**
Reply
2. No Name3, 2020
"That's all we ARE"

**
Reply
3. Neaky Don’t Play, 2021
"Me too the feeling you get in your soul it conjures up our ancestors. I’m Choctaw family represent Creole Wide West Tribe My Auntie Retha The Queen I’m a artist some of my free hand drawing is on her suits. An also my cousin Lloyd suit my daddy sewed for both taught me to sew my mom sew too. Some Indian sticks my daddy wood work & stone art I grew up in this culture. bloodline Indian Choctaw some Cherokee relatives my family been here natives of the land no African slave trade here. We indigenous to America my great-grandmother spoke in her native tongue."

**
4.  No Name3, 2020
"I wish you would stop calling YOURSELVES AFRIKKKKKNS"

**
Reply
5. polly88, 2022
"Why?"

**
Reply
6. Chocolate Radiance, 2023
"You wouldn't be here if  it wasn't for your ancestors..this is not our land by choice and we are not Indians. Ya'll are so confused.  Europeans brought Africans to Louisiana and the Indians where already here so they enslaved and killed them also creole are ppl mixed with French and black. Either way black is black unless you 100% Indian or whatever else you black. No need ro deny our heritage"

**
7. Kalahari Jung, 2022
"Halito to all my Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee, Seminole, and Creole. I love all of y’all. Our true history will NOT be lost. "

**
Reply
8. El Hajj Malik El, 2022
"Love it, bruh. I cringe so hard when they keep bringing up that African stuff because those are all lies. We have always been here and didn't come here on no damn slave ships, most of us."

**
Reply
9. Chocolate Radiance, 2023
"@El Hajj Malik El  you are black and desendants of Africans..the tradition is that Indians helped Africans escape their masters from slavery. You just can't pretend you aren't black 🤣🤣🤣🤣"

**
Reply
10. El Hajj Malik El, 2023
"@Chocolate Radiance  No, that's revisionist history. Trust me, I get why you're laughing, but that's not how history went down at all. It's a lot to get into."

****
ADDENDUM #4
From http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/nola-tribes, "Indigenous Tribes of New Orleans & Louisiana", American Library Association" April 13, 2018 [complete reprint except for acknowlegements]
"The Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana are the four federally-recognized tribes in Louisiana. The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, and Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana are headquartered in the towns of Elton, Jena, and Marksville, respectively. In New Orleans, approximately 2700 people identify as having American Indian/Alaska Native background, comprising 0.7% of the city’s population. In Louisiana as a whole, the percentage is slightly higher, at 1.3%. The original inhabitants of the land that New Orleans sits on were the Chitimacha, with the Atakapa, Caddo, Choctaw, Houma, Natchez, and Tunica inhabiting other areas throughout what is now Louisiana.

The Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana is the only Louisiana tribe to still live on a section of their original homeland, with a reservation located near the town of Charenton, approximately two hours from New Orleans. The Chitimacha exerted much influence over the southeast region at the time of contact with European settlers, but were embroiled in a twelve-year war against the French in the early eighteenth century. As a result, many members were enslaved, killed, and displaced south and west-ward. Throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the tribe pushed for land titles from the United States government but only a few hundred acres in the form of a trust were provided in 1916. Since that point, the Chitimacha have purchased additional land in the area and today own over 900 acres.

Since 1971, the Chitimacha have operated under a constitutional form of government and were the first tribe in Louisiana to adopt a constitution. The tribe owns and operates several businesses in the Charenton area, including a hotel, casino, grocery store, governmental contracting company, and construction company, and are the second-largest employer in St. Mary Parish. They have their own municipal services, clinic, assisted-living facility, and cultural and historical programs. Membership in the tribe is approximately 1300, with most residing in Louisiana.

In a discussion of indigenous history of the area, it is important to note one visible and controversial aspect of New Orleans culture, Mardi Gras Indians – hierarchical “tribes” comprised of African-American members who participate in performances and parades during the Carnival season. According to oral history, this tradition began in the eighteenth century and has several possible origins. Historically, local indigenous tribes hid runaway Black slaves, and some people view Mardi Gras Indians as honoring the history of the two cultures. Others point to the collective racism and violence that both Black and indigenous communities in the area faced as a shared experience. However, because of the exaggerated costumes that are meant to mimic some traditional indigenous dress, and the usage of “tribes,” there is a question of whether this is cultural appropriation. "  

 ****

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.