“At its heart, this is a book about survivance, adaptability, and resistance.”

—Rain Prud’homme-Cranford, Miscegenation Round Dance: Poèmes Historiques

“A useful commentary on Afro-Indigeneity as a mechanism of survival and cultural continuity in the face of European (and American) colonization.”

—Darryl Barthé Jr., Becoming American in Creole New Orleans, 1896–1949

Mardi Gras Indians explores how sacred and secular expressions of Carnival throughout the African diaspora came together in a gumbo-sized melting pot to birth one of the most unique traditions celebrating African culture, Indigenous peoples, and Black Americans. Williams ties together the fragments of the ancient traditions with the expressed experiences of the contemporary. From the sangamentos of the Kongolese and the calumets of the various tribes of the lower Mississippi River valley to one-on-one interviews with today’s Black masking tribe members, this book highlights the spirit of resistance and rebellion upon which this culture was built..

Reviews

“Williams examines the history and current practices of Mardi Gras Indians, writing that the tradition represents a continual act of joy and defiance for Black New Orleanians.”

“Williams shows how masking Indian continues to be, for many, an important gesture of defiance and self-expression in the face of oppression – especially as they have weathered the destruction brought to their city by Hurricane Katrina and the global pandemic.”

Interviews