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The Leonard Lopate Show

Segregated Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama

Thursday, July 24, 2008

The city of Mobile, Alabama’s Mardi Gras celebrations is even older than New Orleans – and they’re also segregated into a black Mardi Gras and a white Mardi Gras. A new documentary, "The Order of Myths," investigates the ongoing segregation in Mobile, and whether its black and white residents are interested in integration. Margaret Brown is director; two of the film’s subjects are Joseph, the black Mardi Gras king; and Brittan, who was in the white Mardi Gras court. It opens July 25 at the IFC Center (323 Sixth Avenue).


Comments

  • [1] rosie July 24, 2008 - 12:43PM

    It's tradition, kind of like apartheid was tradition!


  • [2] L from chelsea July 24, 2008 - 12:51PM

    what about multi-racial/mixed marriage couples? How do they fit in?


  • [3] anonyme from midtown manhattan July 24, 2008 - 01:01PM

    when i was a kid my family belonged to an old fashioned gentlemen's club (kids allowed to use athletic facilities, dining facilities - with separate ladies entrance)which was forced to desegregate - someone complained and it was discovered taht the club was older than liquor licenses and so they were told that if they wanted a liquor license they had to integrate or no liquor. I think private clubs are subject to law!
  • [4] Andy from NYC July 24, 2008 - 01:02PM

    terrific film, saw it at the first screening. Very thought provoking yet fair to it's subjects; one of those movies you carry around with you for a long time in a positive way.
  • [5] Jim from East Bay, CA July 24, 2008 - 01:17PM

    Dear Margaret,

    It doesn't really matter if the film is good or not, judging from comments by Joseph, it sounds like you sensationalized a back story, in lieu of content. Did you not think your film was strong enough? You could hear the disappointment in your subjects' voices. Way to whore out your community. Hope this gets you ahead, cause you only get to sell out once...
  • [6] Saddened from Listerning Online in Atlanta July 24, 2008 - 04:32PM

    I'm all for free speech but WNYC's user comments are deteriorating to what you find on USA Today and ESPN: knee-jerk, jerk comments.
  • [7] K July 31, 2008 - 10:55AM

    Mobile Mardi Gras is NOT Apartied!

    Let me list the ways it is not:

    1) Mardi Gras is a 5 day event

    2) Mardi Gras does not keep anyone from pursuing employement, college education, or the like.

    3) No one is jailed for participation in Mardi Gras

    4) Mardi Gras is fun!

    5) Neither blacks nor whites have ever brought up the subject of integration.

    6) There has never been unrest in Mobile over race. We know how to treat each other.

This thread is closed.


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