Overview

Author and Mardi Gras float designer Rene Pierre highlights African-American participation in New Orleans Mardi Gras and how that involvement has helped shape the annual celebration. With family photos from two generations of float builders, Pierre gives an insiders view of it all. Explore the artistry and history behind the floats, costumes, and customs of the oldest and the most prominent Black Carnival clubs including the Original Illinois Group, the Exclusive Twenties, the Black Pirates, and the Zulu Social Aide & Pleasure Club. With one-on-one interviews with carnival royalty and artisans, stories from krewe elders, and glimpses of pivotal moments in the African-American carnival community, Pierre has created a unique testament to a community that has often been overlooked.

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9781455622627

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Rene Pierre, Gretna, LA, earned an MA in educational administration from Xavier University. He worked as an assistant curator of exhibits for the Louisiana State Museum where he played an integral role in the installation of the Mardi Gras in Louisiana exhibit. Pierre taught art at the Mardi Gras Signature School. He was the creator of the Krewe of Ashanti, a defunct evening parade led entirely by African-Americans. Pierre works as an artist for several float builders, including Blaine Kerns Mardi Gras World.

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