(C) Verite News New Orleans This story was originally published by Verite News New Orleans and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Black masking Indians parade for Downtown Super Sunday [1] ['Minh Ha', 'More Minh Ha', 'Verite News'] Date: 2024-04-08 The festivities did not start until noon, but people had already been on both banks of Bayou St. John for hours before this year’s Downtown Super Sunday march (April 7). Soon after, the streets were filled with music, cheers, colors and joy as Black masking Indian tribes made their way through the city’s downtown neighborhoods. This year’s event featured music from the New Orleans Creation Brass Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Walking alongside tribe members were the Pigeon Town Steppers, the Original Black Seminole Baby Dolls and Kid’s Nation. But the most spectacular parts of the parade were the elaborately beaded and feathered suits, each unique to their wearers. The colorful event kicked off at Moss and Orleans Avenues at Bayou St. John. The parade then proceeded river-bound on Orleans Avenue before turning left on North Broad Street and ending at Hardin Playground in the 7th Ward. Bryson Lewis is a nephew of retiring Big Chief Spirit of the Fi Yi Yi Victor Harris of the Mandingo Warriors, who Lewis said taught him about the tradition. Now a third chief for the 9th Ward Black Hatchet, Lewis spent more than a year working on his suit, which he said depicts scenes from the movie “Roots.” “This is important to me,” Lewis said. “It just shows the gratitude to the Indians that actually took the time and will to try and hide the slaves and to keep us free.” See photos below: Big Chief Dave Montana of the Washitaw Nation Mardi Gras Indian tribe sings “Shallow Water” and plays the tambourine for a crowd at Bayou St. John on April 7, 2024 during Downtown Super Sunday. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Big Chief Victor Harris greats a crowd at Bayou St. John for the Downtown Super Sunday parade on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News A member of the Mandingo Warriors, Spirit of Fi Yi Yi, sings and dances on April 7, 2024 during Downtown Super Sunday. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Queens of the Mandingo Warriors, Spirit of Fi Yi Yi, chant along with the crowd on Bayou St. John on April 7, 2024 during Downtown Super Sunday. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Little Queen J’rean of the Mandingo Warriors, Spirit of Fi Yi Yi, attends the Downtown Super Sunday parade on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Big Chief Victor Harris and Chief Spy Ricky Gettridge show their regalia at Bayou St. John on April 7, 2024 during Downtown Super Sunday. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Bryson Lewis with the 9th Ward Black Hatchet gets help adjusting his regalia on April 7, 2024 during Downtown Super Sunday. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Queen Edwina Waterhouse of 9th Ward Black Hatchet poses at Bayou St. John on Downtown Super Sunday on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Medicine Man Red with the 9th Ward Black Hatchet Tribe poses on Orleans Avenue during Downtown Super Sunday on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Chief Wayne Washington with the 9th Ward Black Hatchet poses for a photo on Downtown Super Sunday on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News The Kid Nation Krewe dances down Orleans Avenue on Downtown Super Sunday on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Little Queen Valley and her grandmother Big Queen Kelly of the Black Osceolas Tribe hold hands on Downtown Super Sunday on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News The Southern Belle Baby Dolls take a moment of rest during Downtown Super Sunday on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News One of the Southern Belle Baby Dolls takes a break on the sidewalk of Orleans Avenue on Downtown Super Sunday on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News A member of the 9th Ward Black Hatchet walks down Orleans Avenue on Downtown Super Sunday on April 7, 2024. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Voodoo Queen Kalindah Lavaux leads the Mystic Seven Sisters down Orleans Avenue on April 7, 2024 during Downtown Super Sunday. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News A spectator snaps a selfie with a Hard Head Hunters flag boy near the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club on Broad Street on April 7, 2024 during Downtown Super Sunday. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News The Hard Head Hunters make their way down Broad Street on the way to Hardin Park on April 7, 2024 for Downtown Super Sunday. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Spy Boy Kendrick Jones of the Hard Head Hunters dedicates his suit to his mother Sandra, a breast cancer survivor, as he walks down Broad Street on April 7, 2024 during Downtown Super Sunday. Credit: Minh Ha / Verite News Lue Palmer contributed to this report. Related Republish This Story Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. [END] --- [1] Url: https://veritenews.org/2024/04/08/black-masking-indians-parade-for-downtown-super-sunday/ Published and (C) by Verite News New Orleans Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 US. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/veritenews/