Mardi Gras Indians

One of the most dazzling elements of the MardiGras celebrations, the Mardi Gras Indians receive the attention and respect ofcarnival-goers for their elaborately beaded costumes and entertaining dances.But what few realize about the groups is that the parading is more than justfor show. Costuming, dancing, and all of the rituals of these groups are actsof cultural preservation that date back more than a century. In his new book,Michael P. Smith addresses the sociological issues surrounding the mislabeledand rarely understood Maroon groups now known as [read more]