Magazine
On the Backstreets of Mardi Gras
A photo essay of Mardi Gras Indians from the Backstreet Museum’s founder, Sylvester Francis
Published: February 1, 2016
Last Updated: September 1, 2020
Photo by Sylvester Francis.
Lionel Delpit of the Black Feather Tribe.
For generations, the Mardi Gras Indians have been an integral part of Carnival history. Mardi Gras Indians evolved from a bond African and Native Americans shared in the 18th and 19th centuries in the South, when runaway slaves sought safety among the various tribes living in the area.
-
- Lionel Delpit of the Black Feather Tribe
-
- Pernell Butler of the Yellow Pocahontas
-
- Kevin Bush of the Flaming Arrows
-
- Pernell Butler of the Yellow Pocahontas
-
- Tootie Montana of the Yellow Pocahontas
-
- Melvin Armstrong of the Yellow Pocahontas
The Backstreet Museum’s founder, Sylvester Francis, has spent much of his lifetime documenting Mardi Gras Indian tribes. The Backstreet Cultural Museum is located at 1116 St. Claude Avenue and is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. For directions to the museum or more information, call (504) 522-4806 or visit www.backstreetculturalmuseum.org.
