Original subtitles

[CROWD MURMURING]

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MAN (OFFSCREEN): WATCH THE [INAUDIBLE]!

WATCH THE [INAUDIBLE]!

THAT STUFF BURN YOUR HAND BOY YOU'LL BE TOO DIZZY.

THAT STUFF BURN BOY.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): THERE'S LOTS OF TRADITIONS TO MARDI GRAS.

EACH PARADE HAS AN EMBLEM FLOAT THAT'S THE SAME EVERY

YEAR, LIKE THE DOUBLE M'S HAS THE BROKEN COLUMN.

LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT'S A BROKEN COLUMN OF THE

CONFEDERACY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT RIGHT OR NOT BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF

THEORIES OF WHY WE HAVE A BROKEN COLUMN.

ON THAT FLOW RIDES FOLLY AND DEATH.

FOLLY CHASES DEATH AROUND THE COLUMN ALL THROUGH THE PARADE,

BEATS HIM WITH A BLOWN UP PIG BLADDER.

IT'S THE OLD SPIRIT OF FOLLY DRIVING DEATH OUT SO THE PARTY

CAN COMMENCE AND OUR BLACK FRIENDS CALL IT

DEVIL AROUND THE POST.

[CROWD CHEERING]

-ABOUT SEVEN MORE MINUTES.

[CROWD MURMURING]

MAY I HAVE EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION?

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME

ALL OF YOU HERE TONIGHT.

ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE RECEPTION COMMITTEE, GIRLS, I

CANNOT TELL YOU HOW EXCITED WE ARE FOR YOU ALL.

YOU'RE ALL GORGEOUS AND TONIGHT IS ABOUT YOU ALL AND

WE'RE HERE TO SERVE YOU ALL AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE

TIME OF YOUR LIFE.

[MUSIC PLAYS]

[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]

-THIS HERE HAS GOT TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR CROWN.

-RIGHT.

-NOW, JUST LOOK STRAIGHT HELEN--

-OKAY.

---AND I'LL GET IT BACK.

GOOD.

-GOOD.

-OKAY.

DOWN.

MAINLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH IS TRYING TO GET THE

RIGHT PROPORTION FOR HELEN BECAUSE ONE THING SHE'S TALL,

WHICH IS WONDERFUL, YOU KNOW?

SHE'S GOT THE HEIGHT AND WE DON'T WANT TO CUT THAT DOWN

THAT'S FOR SURE.

-ADJUST THAT.

THIS IS, KIND OF HAS AN ARGENTINE FLAIR TO IT.

KING PERON OF ARGENTINA AND KING JOSEPH KIND

OF LIKED HIS FLAIR.

-I'M GOING TO CROWN THIS YOUNG LADY.

AND LET'S SEE IF IT'S NOT A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE.

OH BOY!

-THAT'S BETTER, YEAH.

THE QUEEN WILL BECOME AN ACTRESS THAT NIGHT AND THIS

EVENT WOULD BE MORE INSPIRED THAN ANY BROADWAY SHOW.

-GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

-GOOD MORNING HOW ARE YOU DOING YOU LOOK, YOU LOOK

WONDERFUL.

-THANK YOU DEAR.

-DO I NEED TO BOW?

-NOT YET.

-NOT YET?

NOT YET?

OK, OK.

[MUSIC PLAYS]

-GOOD MORNING TEACHERS, STAFF AND STUDENTS.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT THIS MORNING.

AND THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS IN THE FORM OF CONGRATULATIONS TO

TWO OF OUR MOST DISTINGUISHED FACULTY MEMBERS.

MAYBE YOU DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO SEE YESTERDAY'S PAPER, BUT

WE HAVE ROYALTY AMONG US.

-IN YOU ALL HEARD MY GRANDMOTHER ON THE PHONE SO

YOU ALL KNOW SHE CAN TALK.

SHE WASN'T A SLAVE BUT THEY HAD A COTTON FARM, HER

GRANDFATHER AND HIS CHILDREN HAD A COTTON FARM AND SHE HAD

TO PICK COTTON.

AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS GOING TO TAKE HER

GRANDCHILDREN OUT THERE ONE DAY AND TEACH

US HOW TO PICK COTTON.

I'M NOT GOING.

I DON'T WANT TO LEARN.

I'M NOT INTERESTED.

[PA SYSTEM SOUNDS]

-YES?

NO KING ROBERSON IS NOT.

-PLEASE JOIN US IN HERE.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO HONOR THE 2007 KING

AND QUEEN OF CARNIVAL.

-ISN'T IT PERFECT FOR MOBILE TONIGHT TO HONOR THE GREATEST

HONOR THAT WE CAN BESTOW ON ANY ONE IN

MOBILE, QUEEN OF CARNIVAL.

WE KNOW THAT YOU REPRESENT OUR CITY, YOU REPRESENT YOUR

FAMILY, YOU REPRESENT THE CARNIVAL ASSOCIATION, BUT MORE

IMPORTANTLY, YOU REPRESENT THE NEW GENERATION OF MEAHERS AND

LIONSES FROM MOBILE.

WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU QUEEN HELEN.

-THANK YOU.

ALL: CHEERS!

-MAX, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE CERTAINLY NO STRANGERS TO

CARNIVAL AS WELL, AND HERE YOU ARE NOW, LORD OF MISRULE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I ASK THAT YOU LIFT YOUR GLASS TO

KING FELIX III 2007, MONARCH OF MERRIMENT, LORD OF MISRULE,

PAUL, MAX BARRY BRUCKMAN TO MAX.

ALL: HERE HERE.

-I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE FOR

AFFORDING US THIS OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE ARE SO LOOKING

FORWARD TO IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE FESTIVITIES

EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THEN FINALLY I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE A

TOAST TO QUEEN TO BE HELEN.

QUEEN HELEN, HERE HERE.

ALL: HERE HERE.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): FOR A FEMALE--

-YOU GOT A COMB?

-I FOUND OUT ON APRIL 19TH, SO I TOLD MY WHOLE FAMILY TWO

DAYS LATER.

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED ASKING ALL MY FAMILY MEMBERS IF THEY

WANTED TO DO THE COURT AND TELL THEM THAT I WANTED THEM

TO BE ON THERE WITH ME.

-HE'S STANDING THERE LOOKING LIKE HIS GRANDDAD.

WILL YOU COME PEEP?

GOD, TALL.

-OW!

MAN (OFFSCREEN): OK, STAND STRAIGHT UP.

BRING, BRING YOUR HANDS IN FRON.T

-EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF KINGS AND

QUEENS, WE'RE ALL, I'M REPRESENTING THE WHOLE CITY

NOT JUST THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PROSPECTIVE OF MARDI GRAS,

IT'S THE ENTIRE CITY.

-IF YOU LOOK AT MARDI GRAS YEARS AGO, YOU FOUND A LOT OF

BLACK GENTLEMAN IN THE PARADE, BUT THEY WERE CARRYING TORCHES

TO LIGHT THE PARADE AS WELL AS HUGE LANTERNS THAT WERE

BURNING WITH KEROSENE AND THAT WAS THE ONLY

PARTICIPATION THEY HAD.

SO THEY WENT FROM THERE TO THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONS AND

HERE WE ARE.

-WHEN SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO BE THE QUEEN

I SAID, OH MY GOD.

I SAID THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

-EXPENSIVE MONEY.

I'M TELLING YOU IT TAKES, IT TAKES MONEY YOU KNOW, FOR

THAT, SURE.

-WHEN I HAVE SAVED EVERYTHING SO IT'S JUST LIKE WORKING

PENNY PINCHING--

NOT REALLY PENNY PINCHING, JUST PAYING WHAT I HAD TO AND

EVERYTHING ELSE JUST HAD TO GO TO MARDI GRAS, I JUST COULDN'T

DO ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S ABOUT A CAR AND HALF-- MAYBE, WELL I WOULD SAY A CAR.

AT THE MINIMUM YOU GOING TO SPEND A CAR, A NICE 20.

JUST ONE PERSON.

-YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN AT MARDI GRAS, A LOT AS WE

FORGET WHAT BUSINESS IT BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IN 2004 WE COMMISSIONED THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA BUSINESS

SCHOOL TO COME TO MOBILE AND SPEND A YEAR STUDYING WHAT THE

ACTUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT IS OF CARNIVAL ON MOBILE YEAR ROUND.

AND WE WERE AMAZED WE WERE ASTOUNDED.

UH, THE UH, IN 2004 FOR INSTANCE IT WAS $227 MILLION.

-IT'S INSANE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IT

TAKES TO HAND SEW THESE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE HAND SEWING, AND A HAND

CRAFTSMANSHIP.

I GOT TO TELL YOU THIS, THIS REALLY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE

THINGS THE WAY THIS MOVES AND FLOWS THROUGH HERE.

WE HAD DONE SOME SMALL GRAPES BEFORE, AND THESE BIG ONES

THEY LOOK LIKE TIFFANY JEWELRY.

I'M PROUD OF THESE.

-SEE THESE ARE THE BRUCKMANS, THE FAMILY NAME IS BRUCKMAN,

AND THIS IS THEIR ABSOLUTE FAMILY CREST.

AND IT'S THE BRIDGE MAN ON THE BRIDGE.

AND IT'S KIND OF FUNNY.

I DO THIS FOR ONE REASON AND THAT'S TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF AND

GET TO KNOW THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

I'VE MADE GREAT FRIENDS DOING THIS.

-I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE SELECTION FOR BEING QUEEN

WORKS BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT MY GRANDMOTHER AS THE

OLDEST LIVING QUEEN HAD AN INFLUENTIAL PART

FOR ME BEING CHOSEN.

THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO GRACIOUS QUEEN BECAUSE I WAS

REPRESENTING THE WHOLE CITY IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.

-I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU ALL HERE TONIGHT.

THIS IS ABOUT THE NINTH ANNUAL WINE TASTING THAT WE'VE DONE

FOR THE DEBUTANTES.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO GO AROUND THE TABLE AND INTRODUCE

YOUR SELVES, BECAUSE WE GROWN UPS DON'T KNOW

ALL OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

-I'M [INAUDIBLE]

-I'M ZACK WOLF.

-I'M HELEN.

-DEBUTANT, I KNOW IT'S A FRENCH WORD.

IT'S JUST FOR A YOUNG GIRL AND IT'S THE TIME IN WHICH SHE'S

MAKING HER INTRODUCTION TO SOCIETY AND SHE GET MARRIED,

AND SHE'S LIKE READY TO START A FAMILY.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY MARDI GRAS IS RELATED TO MAKING YOUR

DEBUT AND EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A MOBILE THING AND IT'S

ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THIS.

-I CAN'T DRINK A LOT OF RED WINE BECAUSE OF THE HISTAMINES

IN IT, AND IT'LL MAKE ME TURN RED IN THE FACE, AND STOP ME

UP UNLESS I TAKE AN ANTIHISTAMINE FIRST.

SO AND PARTICULARLY BEING DOWN HERE IN A HOT CLIMATE MOST OF

THE YEAR I DRINK WHITE WINE 80% OF THE TIME.

EVEN WITH A STEAK.

-WHAT I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT TO DO HERE IS I'M GOING TO TAKE A

SMALL AMOUNT OF WINE IN MY MOUTH AND SUCK IN, DON'T YOU

ALL DO IT YET, AND SUCK IN AIR OVER IT, AND SWALLOW IT, AND

THEN THINK ABOUT THE SENSATION THAT'S THE IN YOUR MOUTH,

BECAUSE YOUR MOUTH WILL BE FILLED WITH FLAVOR.

-I DON'T HEAR ANY SLURPING.

OK, NOW SWALLOW IT, KEEP YOUR LIPS SHUT AND FEEL THE FLAVOR

JUST EXPAND IN YOUR MOUTH.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): ONE MORE TIME.

ONE, TWO THREE.

VERY GOOD.

-WHEN I FIRST WENT UP-- MY PARENTS FIRST WANTED ME TO DO

THIS THE WAS YOU KNOW--

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): IT'S NOT YOUR CUP OF TEA.

-NO THIS IS NOT MINE.

I MEAN, I KIND OF LIKE TO MARCH TO MY OWN BEAT ALWAYS.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT THE MORE FUN IT--

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): THEY USUALLY HAVE A LOT OF FUN, THE

GIRLS DO.

-YEAH, UH-HUH YEAH.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): IF YOU LIKE IT, THE BOW AND--

I THINK I LIKE IT.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): OK.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): OK.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR.

-OK.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): I WAS ALWAYS LIBERAL POLITICALLY.

I WAS ALWAYS MORE SENSITIVE TO, YOU KNOW, RACISM, AND I

MEAN POLITICALLY I WAS JUST MORE LIBERAL, IT WAS ALWAYS

KIND OF HARD.

-WOULD IT FIT AROUND LIKE, AROUND MY HIPS?

-BEING RAISED BY PEOPLE THAT WERE VERY INFLUENTIAL IN MY

LIFE THAT RAISED ME THAT WERE BLACK, I THINK WHATS ALWAYS

BOTHERED ME WAS THE WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH WERE

ABLE TO DISTINGUISH THIS ONE BLACK PERSON THEY HAD A

RELATIONSHIP WITH FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

THEY WOULD GET CLOSE AND LOVE THIS PERSON BUT TO THERE.

YOU KNOW USUALLY THESE PEOPLE ARE IN POSITIONS OF

EMPLOYMENT.

IF YOU LOVE THEM, AND YOU KNOW THEIR STORIES, AND YOU GIVE

THEM EXTRA $20 AT CHRISTMAS, AND YOU KNOW THIS, THAT AND

THE OTHER--

HOW IS YOUR DAUGHTER, HOW IS YOUR SISTER, HAVE THOSE

CONVERSATIONS BUT THERE'S A THERE'S A FEAR FOR GETTING

CLOSER THAN THAT.

-OK.

OK, NOW FOR THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING WITH THIS--

-OH, JUST TUCK IT IN.

-NO I MEAN UH, AS FAR AS WEARING THE, WEARING IT WITH

THE TRAIN.

-OH RIGHT.

BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS YOU HAVE TO ATTACH TO TRAIN TO THE BACK

OF--

-IN ORDER TO KEEP THE TRAIN ON THERE'S A HARNESS THAT YOU

HAVE TO WEAR UNDERNEATH IT.

-A HARNESS.

-YES.

IT'S JUST STRAPS.

-IT GOES UNDERNEATH MY TOP?

-AND IT GOES UNDERNEATH YOUR TOP.

-WOW.

DO I GET TO TAKE THE HARNESS OFF AFTER I

TAKE THE TRAIN OFF?

HARNESS IT'S LIKE A HORSE.

THIS IS REALLY LIKE GOING BACK TO VICTORIAN

TIMES, I FEEL LIKE--

-YOU'LL FEEL LIKE REAL ROYALTY.

-THAT ACTUALLY IS THE COOL PART ABOUT IT I'VE BEEN

THINKING ABOUT MORE AND MORE.

-THE TRADITION OF IT?

-YEAH

-YOU LIKE THAT?

-YEAH I LIKE IT.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT APPEALS TO ME IN A WAY

THAT YOU KNOW?

I'M GETTING, I'M GETTING A GREATER AND GREATER AFFINITY

FOR MY ROOTS.

-THIS WILL DO--

I THINK THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE WILL--

-I THINK SO TOO.

-YEAH, IT ENLIGHTENS YOU ABOUT A LOT.

-I THINK SO TOO.

-A LOT OF HISTORY.

YOU KNOW?

-YEAH.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR?

-THEY WANTED HIM COME TO THEY HOUSE AND UM STAY WITH HIM

BECAUSE HE COULDN'T STAY IN A HOTEL BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK

SO--

-THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW BLACK PEOPLE COULDN'T STAY IN

HOTELS RIGHT?

AND HOW THEY USED TO HAVE TO STAY IN PEOPLE'S HOUSES WHEN

THEY CAME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO SLEEP.

SO AGAIN WHERE DOES MS. JACKSON COME IN.

[MULTIPLE STUDENTS ANSWER]

-DUKE ELLINGTON CAME AND STAYED AT HIS HOUSE BEFORE,

BECAUSE HE PERFORMED HE COULDN'T STAY AT A HOTEL.

TEACHER (OFFSCREEN): OK SO I THINK WE GOT IT STRAIGHT NOW.

-WHEN WE HAD CELEBRITIES TO VISIT THE CITY, SUCH AS MARIAN

ANDERSON, PAUL ROBESON, DOROTHY DANDRIDGE, THEY

COULDN'T STAY IN HOTELS.

THEREFORE, THEY WOULD STAY WITH WHOMEVER

HAD THE NICEST HOUSE.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS A DOCTOR IN THE CITY.

THEIR HOME WAS ONE OF THE NICER HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY

AND MY GRANDFATHER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY HOSPITABLE PERSON.

-ALRIGHT, SO THEY, THEY WERE TALKING

ABOUT THIS, THIS, ANNUAL--

THAT'S A WORD WE KNOW, RIGHT?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

ALL: EVERY YEAR.

-OK, THIS ANNUAL DANCE THEY HAVE AND THIS ONE WAS GOING TO

BE SPECIAL BECAUSE?

STUDENT (OFFSCREEN): DUKE ELLINGTON.

-DUKE ELLINGTON WAS COMING TO PLAY.

-I HAVE A SORT OF A CHERISHED MEMORY.

PAUL ROBESON CAME HERE TO MOBILE AND HE SANG BRAHMS'S

LULLABY TO THE BABY, AND IT HAPPENED TO BE ME.

-BE SURE YOU BEEN TELLING THEM ABOUT THAT TIME DUKE

ELLINGTONE.

CAME AND STAY AT THE PLACE, KEEPING FOLKS FROM GOING

PLACES JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE BLACK.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-HEY HOW ARE YOU?

-THE SIZE OF THE STONES ARE INCREDIBLE

AND THE FUR IS ORIGINAL.

WHAT WE DID WE ADDED THE BAR TO GIVE THE MANTLE THE LENGTH

THAT WE WANTED TODAY AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE ADDED WAS

WAS HELEN'S INITIALS.

HELEN BIATRIX MEAHER.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): YOU KNOW, IN ALL OUR LIVES SOMETIMES WE

HAVE A DARK PART OF OUR LIVES THAT WE'D

RATHER NOT TO DEAL WITH.

SOME AFRICANS BELIEVED THAT THE ANCESTORS, THEY'RE NOT

DEAD, THEY'RE RIGHT HERE TODAY.

CAN'T YOU FEEL THEM?

-IN 1859 SLAVERY WAS STILL GOING ON, BUT AT THAT POINT IN

TIME THE SLAVE TRADE ITSELF HAD BEEN

ABOLISHED AND WAS ILLEGAL.

THE MEAHER FAMILY, WHICH EXISTS TODAY, EVEN HERE TODAY

IN MOBILE, THEY OWNED A LOT OF LAND.

THE STORY HAS IT THAT OLD TIM MEAHER MADE A BET THAT HE

COULD GO AND BRING BACK A SHIP OF SLAVES.

HE GOT THE SCHOONER "CLOTILDE" AND BROUGHT THE SLAVES BACK

HERE INTO MOBILE BAY.

WELL, BECAUSE IT WAS IN LEGAL HE TOLD THE FIRST MATE ON THE

SHIP THAT HE WAS GOING INTO TOWN TO COLLECT HIS BET, AND

IF HE DIDN'T GET BACK WITHIN AN HOUR TO RUN IT AGROUND, SET

IT AFIRE, TO GET RID OF THE EVIDENCE AND HE DID NOT COME

BACK WITHIN THE HOUR.

SO THE FIRST MATE DID JUST THAT.

HE RAN HER AGROUND AND SET HER ON FIRE.

ALL OF THE AFRICANS THAT WERE ON THE SHIP WERE ABLE TO GET

OFF OF THE SHIP AND THEY WENT INTO THE WOODS, WHAT IS KNOWN

TODAY AS AFRICA TOWN.

PLATEAU, ALABAMA WAS WHAT IT WAS NAMED PRIOR TO THAT.

AND THEY HID.

THAT WAS THE LAST SLAVE SHIP TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES.

-1859 AND IT LANDED IN MOBILE ALABAMA AT PLATEAU.

DURING THAT TIME PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AND

ACTUALLY SETTLED ON LAND HAD SQUATTERS' RIGHTS.

IF THAT'S THE CASE THAT PROBABLY COULD BE THE ARGUMENT

MADE FOR WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY SCOTT PAPER COMPANY, BECAUSE

THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE.

THEY WERE ALL IN THAT AREA.

AND SO IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME

FAMILIES IN MOBILE WHO WERE REALLY INTRICATELY INVOLVED IN

IT, THEIR ANCESTORS.

-THEY MEAHER FAMILY ARE THE PRIMARY PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN

THE WHOLE AREA OF AFRICA TOWN.

AND ONE THING ABOUT THEM, THE DON'T SELL LAND THEY'LL LET

YOU LEASE IT, OR RENT IT BUT THEY WON'T SELL ANY LAND.

WITH THEIR ANCESTORS BEING THE PERSONS WHO CONCOCTED THE IDEA

OF BRINGING THE SLAVE HERE TO MOBILE I THINK THAT THEY HAVE

SOME OF THE ORIGINAL ARTIFACTS THAT WERE PART OF THE SLAVE

SHIP THE "CLOTILDE" BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN COOPERATIVE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR REASONS ARE BUT WE'RE GOING TO

CONTINUED TO PUSH ON WITH THE STORY.

BUT NOT THE PUNITIVE PURPOSES, BUT FOR POSTERITY.

-MY GRANDFATHER HE WAS REALLY FROM AFRICA.

HE REALLY WAS-- WAS BROUGHT INTO PLATEAU,

OUT THERE ON A BOAT.

FROM THAT, THE FAMILY SPREAD.

HIS NAME WAS BARRY MALONE SURE RIGHT.

PAT RICHARDSON (OFFSCREEN): SO OK NOW I HAVE IT, I GOT YOU

OK, I GOT YOU, AM I STRAIGHT WITH YOU NOW?

SEE AM I STRAIGHT WITH YOU?

WE'RE OFF SOMEWHERE.

HERE I WOULD JUST GO EVERY OTHER.

-YEAH THERE'S GOING TO BE AN AWFUL LOT OF STONES ON HERE

TOO.

-YES, I AGREE.

THE BEST PART FOR ME IS TO SEE THAT QUEEN OR KING OR LADY HIT

THE RUNWAY, HIT THE STAGE, AND I JUST RUN OUT THERE AND I

JUST SIT AND I JUST WATCH THEM FLOW ACROSS THE STAGE AND JUST

WATCH IT JUST DAZZLE, DAZZLE, DAZZLE.

I LIKE THE DAZZLE.

MY OWN-- MY-- ALL MY TRAINS DAZZLE.

THEY JUST, THEY'RE JUST BLINDING.

AND I LIKE THAT LOOK, I LIKE THAT POP, POP, POP, POP, POP

POP, THE LIGHTS.

-THE ENTIRE GOWN WILL BE JEWELED THIS WAY AND THIS IS

THE FRONT OF THE GOWN.

AND THIS IS VERY, VERY FLATTERING ON HELEN BECAUSE

YOU KNOW, ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF BUST LINE IT

REALLY DOES.

AND THIS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IS ALMOST A REPLICA OF HER

GRANDMOTHER'S GOWN THAT SHE WORE IN 1935.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THOSE APPLIQUES ACTUALLY CAME

OFF OF YOUR MANTLE.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE THAT HAS BEEN TO US IS

TRYING TO DO CAPTURE--

-THAT IS A MUCH BETTER IDEA.

-AND OF COURSE THE BEAUTY PART ABOUT MOBILE MARDI GRAS, IT'S

FOCUSED ON ONE QUEEN.

WE DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT QUEENS LIKE THE

CARNIVAL HAS IN NEW ORLEANS.

IN MOBILE THERE IS ONE QUEEN OF MARDI GRAS.

-MY NAME IS ALIA JONES, THIS MY STORY.

HAVE YOU HAD A MOON PIE BEFORE?

I HAVE.

THEY ARE VERY SCRUMPTIOUS.

MY FAVORITE KIND OF MOON PIE IS A CHOCOLATE MOON PIE.

WHEN I EAT THIS MOON PIE IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE JUMPING IN

A POOL FULL OF CHOCOLATE FILLING.

WHEN I SMELL THE MOON PIE, THE SMELL KNOCKS ME OUT LIKE

MUHAMMAD ALI.

THE MOON PIE FEELS MUSHY AND SOFT.

THE MOON PIE IS AS SOFT AS A PILLOW MADE OUT OF

MARSHMALLOWS.

I WILL SHAVE MY HEAD AND JOIN THE ARMY JUST FOR A MOON PIE.

-I ADMIRE YOUR WORK.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): THANK YOU.

AND I ALWAYS ADMIRE YOURS.

-WE'RE GOING TO ALLUDE TO ONE THIS YEAR.

-ARE YOU?

-IT'S PURPLE, JUST LIKE THAT.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): OH, IS IT?

I'M DYING TO SEE IT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT YEAH.

-BUT KELLY HAS INVITED ME OVER TO HIS STUDIO TO SEE, TO SEE

THE QUEEN.

-SURE.

AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO MY STORE ANY DAY TO

SEE THE KING'S TRAIN.

-ANY TIME RON BARRETT TELLS YOU YOU'RE THE BOMB--

I'M UP ON CLOUD NINE NOW.

I MEAN WHEN HE TELLS YOU HE'S BEEN WATCHING IT AND HE LOVES

IT AND HE LOVES IT AND HE LOVES YOUR DETAIL IT MAKES YOU

FEEL WONDERFUL.

SO ALL ABOUT, ALL OUR WORK IS WORTH IT.

-YOU CAN NOT BUY A TICKET TO ONE OF THE OLD ORGANIZATIONS.

I CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT THE NEW ONES.

NO ONE IS INVITED EXCEPT THE ACTIVE AND THE HONORARY

MEMBERS AND THEIR WIVES OR DATES.

SO IT'S A PRIVATE PARTY YOU MIGHT SAY.

LIKE WHO YOU INVITE INTO YOUR HOME IT'S YOUR BUSINESS.

-HEY, AT THE OPEN HOUSE WE DISCUSSED ABOUT

GETTING A MASK CUT.

I AM TIRED OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM MY MEMBERS AND

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

TWO THINGS I WANT TO KNOW.

ONE, WE NEED A MASK TO SHOW US, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TELL

YOU, IF YOU'RE A BEER DRINKER, YOU AIN'T GOING TO WORK IT OUT

OF THIS MASK.

TWO YOU CAN'T BREATHE OUT OF IT.

THREE, AND I DON'T MEAN ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, THIS MASK

FITS A MONGOLOID, YOU HEAR ME?

[APPLAUSE]

-IF EVERYBODY WOULD TAKE ONE MINUTE AND PUT EVERY DAMN BEER

DOWN AND LISTEN, IF YOU TAKE THIS MASK AND TRY TO WEAR IT

LIKE THIS IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A MONGOLOID.

TAKE THE MASK AND TIE YOU A KNOT IN THE BACK OF THE MASK.

LIKE THAT.

PUT THE DAMN THING ON.

IT WON'T MOVE.

OK?

IT WON'T MOVE.

TIE IT TIGHT AS YOU CAN IN THE BACK.

YOUR HAT IS GOING TO GO TO RIGHT HERE.

CUT FROM HERE UP.

IF YOU CUT FROM HERE UP.

THE WHOLE THING WITH MARDI GRAS, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT

EVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE WHOLE THING WITH MARDI GRAS

IS, IT IS A MYSTIC SOCIETY THAT NOBODY IS SUPPOSED TO

KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION

PLEASE, I THINK WE ALL NEED TO RAISE OUR GLASS AND LET'S

TOAST THE OLDEST MYSTIC ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY,

IT WAS STARTED IN 1842, AND LET'S TOAST THE STRIKERS.

ALWAYS MEMBERS PAST AND PRESENT.

ALL: HERE HERE.

-THE OUTLAWS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN STRIKERS EVER

SINCE 1874.

I'M A FOURTH GENERATION AND WE ARE SO PROUD TONIGHT TO HAVE

YOU LEAD OUR DANCE.

YOU'RE THE FIFTH GENERATION.

I ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU I JUST THINK YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLE

YOUNG LADY.

-A MYSTIC SOCIETY IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE, MEN OR WOMEN, OR

MEN AND WOMEN TOGETHER, THAT CHOOSE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.

REALLY FOR FUN.

AND IT'S PART OF OUR WHOLE CULTURE WITH CARNIVAL AND WITH

MARDI GRAS AND MOBILE, IS TO HAVE MYSTIC SOCIETIES WHERE

YOU ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW WHO'S BEHIND THE MASK.

YOU DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHO'S IN THE ORGANIZATION.

THAT MAKES IT FUN.

-IF THEY HAD A NEIGHBOR JOB THAT DIDN'T HAVE AN

INVITATION, I MEAN A MASKER TO TAKE HER OUT, I'D

VOLUNTEERED TO DO IT.

I WORE A MASK IN MANY CASES THEY NEVER KNEW

WHO TOOK THEM OUT.

AND FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, WHEN YOU GET

BEHIND THAT MASK, YOU DO SOME THINGS THAT YOU WOULDN'T DO

WITHOUT IT ON.

-THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN AND HE HAS DECIDED THAT

TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE ONE FOR THE MEMORY BOOKS.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

MAN (OFFSCREEN): LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MISS

HELEN BEATRIX MEAHER.

MAX BRUCKMAN (OFFSCREEN): IT'S NOT THE SAME ANYWHERE.

THE DRESS CODE IN THE SOUTH IS PEOPLE LIKE TO GET DRESSED UP,

GO TO A PARTY.

YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH IT KIND OF SAYS, LOOK

WE'RE TRADITIONALISTS.

WE LIKE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A HERITAGE, AND WE LIKE THE

FACT THAT WE'RE TIED BACK TO HISTORY, SO WE'RE GOING TO

KEEP DOING WHAT OUR ANCESTORS DID, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID

WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THINGS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO

LET PEOPLE SHOW UP TO THESE PARTIES UNDERDRESSED, AND I

THINK THAT'S GREAT.

IT KIND OF TIES IN THE WHOLE YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF IT'S TIED

TO HISTORY AND WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

-WE ALL VALUE OUR TREES, AND WE ALL SPEND A LOT OF TIME

WORRYING ABOUT THEM AND NURSING THEM AND CARING FOR

THEN, AND YOU'D SAY HOWS THAT--

IN FACT MARDI GRAS, YOU'D SAY WE RUN THE RALLY EVERY YEAR TO

BE SURE THAT WE CAN LIFT THE TREES RATHER

THAN TRIM THE TREES.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

AND WE VERY SELDOM EVER TOUCH A TREE BECAUSE TREES ARE

REALLY SACRED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT JUST FITS RIGHT IN TO WHAT WE VALUE.

WE VALUE OUR ROOTS, NO PUN INTENDED.

BUT WE VALUE THOSE THINGS, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR CULTURE,

OUR CANOPY OF OAKS IS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

WE'RE NOT EXACTLY DRUIDS BUT WE DO LOVE TREES.

-MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?

I'M YOUR PIANIST I'M BOB HOLME, AND I'VE HAD THE

PRIVILEGE OF TEACHING BOTH MRS. YOUNGBLOOD AND HER

DAUGHTER BRITTAIN.

AND THIS IS THEIR FAVORITE PIECE.

IT'S AN ETUDE BY CHOPIN.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): I THINK THE TWO WOMEN WHO RAISED US THE

MOST WERE YOU AND DORA.

-YEAH, YES, HOW IS SHE DOING?

-SHE'S GOOD.

SHE JUST CALLED ME THE OTHER DAY.

-SHE DID?

-SHE'S GOING TO BE 78 THIS YEAR.

-NO.

SHE LOOKS GREAT.

-SHE LOOKS AMAZING.

-GREAT.

-AND SHE MET [INAUDIBLE], WE WENT TO CHURCH WITH HER.

-YOU DID?

-WHEN HE CAME THIS SUMMER.

IT WAS AMAZING.

-THAT'S GREAT, THAT'S GREAT.

-AND UM, AND SHE TOLD ME, I WISH THAT I WAS GOING TO GET

MARRIED WHEN I WAS 35.

-UH-HUH.

-AND SHE SAID, GOT TO MAKE IT AT LEAST 30.

I'M 78.

[LAUGHTER]

-SO--

-EXCUSE ME.

-OH, SORRY.

-IT'S OK.

-NOW, WITH THE OTHER PARTY, NOW WHERE'S THE OTHER PARTY?

-I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

-OH, YOU DON'T KNOW?

-THERE'S A PILE OF INVITATIONS.

-OH, OK, OK.

-I JUST KIND OF GO WHERE I'M TOLD TO GO NEXT.

-FLOAT WITH THE WIND, HUH?

-EXACTLY.

-I FORGOT WHAT IT'S LIKE IN MOBILE, THAT THERE IS A WAY OF

DOING THINGS.

THERE IS A CODE OF BEHAVIOR, A CODE OF

CONDUCT THAT IS THE NORM.

TO BE HONEST, I WASN'T PARTICULARLY WANTING TO DO

THIS, MY DEBUT.

MY MOM WANTED ME TO DO IT, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HER.

WHAT?

MOTHER (OFFSCREEN): WHAT?

-WHAT?

[LAUGHTER]

-IT'S TRUE.

-OK.

-I DIDN'T.

AND I KIND OF FEEL MYSELF, I'M LESS RELAXED.

FORM ISN'T RELAXED UNLESS IT'S SECOND NATURE,

-MY FEELING IS THAT YOUR, YOUR HOME, YOUR ROOTS, WHERE YOU

GREW UP, ARE REALLY JUST AS MUCH A PART OF YOU AS YOUR,

YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR FATHER YOU KNOW, ARE A PART OF YOU.

I SEE THIS AS A WAY OF, OF KIND OF HELPING HER RECONNECT

WITH WHERE SHE'S FROM.

-YOU CAN'T HAVE RECONCILIATION IF ONLY ONE SIDE OR ONE PARTY

WANTS TO BE RECONCILED AND THE OTHER SIDE IS STAYING AWAY AND

DOESN'T WANT TO SHOW ANY INTEREST IN IT.

YOU KNOW THERE'S THE MEAHER NATIONAL PARK

NOT SO FAR FROM HERE.

WHEN I SAW THE SIGN THE MEAHER NATIONAL PARK I SAID, OH YES,

THAT'S THE FELLOW WHO HIRED ILLEGALLY A SHIP OF SLAVES AND

BROUGHT THEM HERE, THE BEGINNING OF AFRICA TOWN.

AND SO WE HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THAT NAME.

HOW RESILIENT THE BODY AND THE SPIRIT OF INDIVIDUALS TO BE

ABLE TO SURVIVE THAT KIND OF AFRICAN HOLOCAUST.

AND WE TODAY HAVE CAST THAT OUT OF OUR MINDS AND WE HAVE

NOT PAID ATTENTION TO IT.

-YES SIR.

-FRIENDS, LET ME JUST SAY, MANY OF OUR WHITE BROTHERS AND

SISTERS ARE WORRIED THAT ANY TIME WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING

LIKE THIS, THEY ALWAYS THINK WE TALK ABOUT REPARATIONS.

THAT WE'RE GOING TO THE BILL.

THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE US SOME MONEY.

WE DON'T WANT ANY MONEY!

IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY FOR THE SACRIFICES.

NO WAY THAT YOU CAN PAY IN TERMS OF DOLLARS AND CENTS

WHAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE SACRIFICED.

IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY!

IT'S ABOUT THE OTHER KIND OF CURRENCY.

A CHANGE OF THE HEART, NOT THE CHANGE OF THE POCKET.

FRIENDS WE'RE LIVING IN A VERY TERRIBLE TIME, A TIME IN WHICH

MANY OF US AS AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE KNOWN DOMESTIC

TERRORISM FOR MANY YEARS, BUT NOBODY HAS WANTED TO SAY

ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

A TIME IN WHICH OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LYNCHED

EVEN IN HERE IN MOBILE.

IN FACT A STREET HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER THE INDIVIDUAL WHO

WAS LYNCHED.

THESE ARE NOT ANCIENT THINGS, THESE ARE NOT THINGS OF OUR

PAST, BUT THESE ARE THINGS RIGHT IN OUR MIDST.

-IT'S REALLY A PART OF THE CITIES HISTORY THAT THE CITY

IS NOT PROUD OF, SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE CITY IS

OVERCOMING.

PEOPLE WHO LIVED THROUGH IT NEVER FORGET IT.

-MY NAME IS SAMMY SHEPHARD.

THIS IN MY 48TH YEAR OF DOING THE MARDI GRAS.

THAT MY BROTHER LOUIS-CHARLES, HE BEEN IN

IT A NUMBER OF YEARS.

-SLOW IT DOWN.

SLOW IT DOWN.

-OUR JOB IS TO TAKE THEM THE TOWN AFTER THEY FINISH

PARADING, BRING THEM BACK MAKE SURE THEY BE REPLACED BACK IN

THE WAREHOUSE.

-WE DOING THE CONDES THEN WE DO THE MOBILE

MYSTIC AFTER THE CONDES.

THEN WE COME HERE AND WE DO THE MYSTERY STRIPERS, AND THEN

WE DO THE MOTS, AND THEN WE GOT ALL FOUR OF

THEM MARDI GRAS DAY.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT EACH OTHER.

IT TAKE EVERYBODY DOING THEIR PART.

-I BROUGHT HIM HERE ALL THE WAY UP.

-20 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): 20 YEAR MAN HERE.

WE BROUGHT HIM HERE WHEN HE WAS A PUP, NOW HE A BIG DOG.

-MY DAD IS JERRY RICHARDSON HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE MOBILE

MYSTICS, THIS MARDI GRAS ORGANIZATION, AND TODAY I'M

HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY THAT

UHM, ALL THE FLOATS GET OUT.

HOPEFULLY IT'LL HELP ME GET IN IN A FEW YEARS.

I'M ONLY 18 YEARS OLD AND YOU HAVE TO BE 21 TO UH, JOIN A

MARDI GRAS ORGANIZATION IN MOBILE.

SOME ORGANIZATIONS THEY THE TRADITION AND IF YOU'RE NOT

OLD MOBILE, THERE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 50, 60

YEARS, THEN THEY DON'T REALLY WANT YOU.

BUT THE MOBILE MYSTICS, THEY ACCEPT EVERYBODY.

-MY NAME IS DESTINY WILLIAMS.

THE TITLE OF MY STORY IS CALLED MOON PIES.

HAVE YOU SEEN A MOON PIE?

DOES YOU LIKE MOON PIES?

I DO.

I LOVE THE BANANA MOON PIES.

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH THAT I WOULD NOT GIVE MY MOON PIES UP

FOR NOTHING IN THE WORLD.

I WILL NOT SHARE MY MOON PIES WITH OTHERS.

THEY ARE FRUITY AND JUICY.

THE MOON PIES ARE FLAVORY AND SWEET.

IT IS AS SWEET AS HONEY.

I AM AS STUBBORN AS A MULE WITH MY MOON PIES.

I REALLY ADORE MY MAGNIFICENT TREAT.

-WHOO!

-UH OH.

YOU CAN'T GET IN.

-CJ!

-WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING OUT THERE?

[MUSIC PLAYS]

-HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

-HEY!

HEY!

MAN (OFFSCREEN): YES SIR?

-YOU GOT A MOON PIE?

-THAT WAS THE WAY--

-HUH?

MAN (OFFSCREEN): HAPPY MARDI GRAS.

MAX BRUCKMAN (OFFSCREEN): HAPPY MARDI GRAS.

-GIVE ME A MOON PIE.

-HAPPY MARDI GRAS.

GIVE ME A MOON PIE.

-GO OUT FOR A PASS.

-BOOM TOUCHDOWN!

-IT'S UHM, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY--

I DON'T KNOW THE POLITICALLY CORRECT WORD FOR IT, BUT IT'S

LIKE PRETTY SEVERELY RETARDED KIDS AND ALL AND IT'S GREAT.

I MEAN THEY LOVE IT, THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME WITH IT.

BUT LIKE I MEAN, ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S

SAD, I MEAN TO SEE THESE KIDS BUT YET WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE

BRING TO THEM MEANS A WHOLE LOT TO THEM.

WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH AND GO UP TO THE FRONT, AND

I'LL SHOW YOU THE MEETING HALL BECAUSE THEY

GETTING ANTSY FOR A MEETING.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): HERE WE GO, YOU ALL, HERE WE GO GUYS.

HERE WE GO.

WOMAN (OFFSCREEN): THE MOBILE AREA MARDI GRAS ASSOCIATION

WELCOMES YOU TO THE 2007 GRAND MARSHAL'S BALLS.

IF YOU ARE NOT IN A FESTIVE MOOD WHEN YOU ARRIVED I KNOW

YOU ARE NOW.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE 2007 ROYAL COURT.

-THIS IS A LETTER TO THE EDITOR THAT I SUBMITTED IN

SEPTEMBER OF 2006.

FOR YEARS I HAVE BEEN AN AVID PARTICIPANT IN MARDI GRAS AND

ALL OF IT'S ASSOCIATION HOOPLA.

IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS TELLING MARTY GROVE

STORIES TO A HUSBAND AND WIFE WHO WERE VISITING THE CITY THE

HUSBAND, WHO IS WHITE, EXCLAIMED THAT HE COULD GET

BALL TICKETS FROM HIS PROJECT MANAGER.

THEIR EXCITEMENT HOWEVER TURNED QUICKLY TO SORROW AS I

EXPLAINED THAT MARDI GRAS IS ALSO THE LAST STRONGHOLD OF

SEGREGATION, AND THAT HIS WIFE WHO IS BLACK WOULD NOT BE

ADMITTED TO THE BALL.

I OFFERED TO INVITE THEM TO MY BALL INSTEAD, BUT THEY WERE

NOT INTERESTED.

THE SEGREGATION PART HAD SPOILED IT.

THE FOLKS DOWNTOWN WILL BE MAD, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BAD FOR

TOURISM BUT IT IS THE TRUTH, ISN'T IT.

WE CAN ALL KIND OF SKIRT AROUND AND SAY, WELL THEY LIKE

IT LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SAY.

WELL, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

LORENZO MARTIN (OFFSCREEN): IN 2000 I CAME DOWN TO MIDTOWN

WITH MY SON DOING THE MARDI GRAS

AND I PUT ON MY SHOULDERS.

LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT HE WAS GOING TO HOLLER AND SCREAM FOR

MOON PIES AND BEADS, AND HE WASN'T GOING TO GET IT BECAUSE

HE WAS YOUNG BLACK KID.

HE DID NOT KNOW THAT, I KNEW THAT, AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE

THAT WAS IN FRONT OF US KNEW IT, SO THEY ON THREE OCCASIONS

PASSED HIM SOME [INAUDIBLE] SOME BEADS, SOME MOON PIE.

AFTER THAT NIGHT I FELT REAL BAD AS A DAD.

MY FIRST SON HE'S A JUNIOR.

AND I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

I PROCEEDED TO TALK TO THE MAYOR AND TALKED TO SOME OTHER

INDIVIDUALS ABOUT POSSIBLY HAVING AN ORGANIZATION

INTEGRATED THAT PARADE- DURING THE PARADE SEASON.

-I LIKE HISTORY BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN

YOUR PAST YOU'LL NEVER FIND OUT WHAT YOUR

FUTURE GOING TO BE LIKE.

THE WHOLE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T REPEAT THE PAST

AND SEGREGATE ANYBODY.

WE'RE NOT A SEGREGATED ORGANIZATION.

WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY.

I'M PRETTY SURE WE COVERED ALL THE RULES OF WHAT WE CAN'T DO

SO MUCH TO RULES OF WHAT WE CAN DO.

YOU CAN HAVE FUN.

YOU CAN THROW CANDY.

YOU CAN SMILE, YOU CAN JUMP, YOU CAN SHOUT, YOU CAN SCREAM

YOU CAN DO ALL THOSE THINGS.

WE'RE GOING TO WRAP THIS UP BECAUSE TIME IS AT AN ESSENCE.

TIME IS AT ESSENCE.

WHEN YOU GET ON YOUR FLOAT JUST REMEMBER ONE THING.

YOU'RE STILL MAKING HISTORY, YOU'RE STILL MAKING HISTORY.

-BUT US NOT HAVING A FLOAT BOARD, US NOT OWNING THE

FLOATS, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE

A FOUR OR FIVE HOUR SPAN TO LOAD THE FLOATS.

-WHAT WE DO, WE RENT OUR FLOATS.

AFTER WE USE THEM, THEY'RE NOT GOOD FOR NOTHING.

SO WE END UP RENTING THEM TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT'S

BUILDING UP.

THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO BUILD THEIR OWN FLOAT.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT THESE FLOATS WOULD RUN YOU ANYWHERE FROM

$60,000 TO $75,000 FROM THE GROUND UP.

AND THE CAVALIERS ARE SUCH GOOD PEOPLE THEY ALLOW YOU ALL

TO RENT THESE FINE BEAUTIFUL FLOATS, TO ENJOY YOU ALL'S

PARADE, RIGHT?

MAN (OFFSCREEN): WE APPRECIATE IT.

-AND, AND AND, YOU KNOW THE GOOD THING ABOUT WE WANT TO

GROW AND BE--

YOU ALL ARE A ROLE MODEL TO US.

THAT'S HOW YOU LEARN YOU--

MAN (OFFSCREEN): WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

WAIT A MINUTE.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): THAT'S A BAD ROLE MODEL.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): YOU NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): NO, THAT SOUNDS GOOD,

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): YOU NEED TO LEARN THROUGH HISTORY.

MAN (OFFSCREEN): WISH WE COULD SELL OUR FLOATS TO YOU ALL AND

WE COULD RENT THEM FROM YOU ALL.

YEAH, YOU PAY TO REBUILD THEM YOU PAY TO HOUSE THEM.

-YEAH, YEAH THAT'S--

MAN (OFFSCREEN): IT'S A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER THAT WAY.

DON'T GET NO BARN.

-THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

BUT YEAH, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW W REALLY DO.

EVERY YEAR, EVERY YEAR I TELL YOU, TELL YOU GUYS HOW MUCH WE

APPRECIATE YOU.

UM, YOU ALL HAVE MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY.

-WE DEPOSIT YOUR APPRECIATION.

-YOU DID?

-YEAH.

-DID IT, DID IT CLEAR?

-IT CLEARED.

THIS YEAR IT DID.

-THIS YEAR!

HEY

MAN (OFFSCREEN): YOU'RE IN OUR BAR AREN'T YOU?

-LOVE IT!

-MY DUTY TODAY IS TO HAVE A KEY AROUND MY NECK.

NOW, WE SAY THAT THE KEYS DON'T OPEN ANYBODY, BUT THIS

KEY DOES THIS KEY OPEN CITY HALL.

SO ON ASH WEDNESDAY I HOPE THE GRAND MARSHALL GIVES IT BACK

TO ME BECAUSE I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET IN MY OFFICE.

-(SINGING) THE SOUTHERN BELLS ARE RINGING, CLIMATE'S IDEAL.

IT'S A HONEYSUCKLE OF HEAVEN BY THE NAME OF MOBILE.

MAN (OFFSCREEN)LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THEY MAYOR OF

MOBILE THE HONORABLE SAM JONES.

[SHOUTING WITH EXCITEMENT]

MAN (OFFSCREEN)THANKS, PLEASE WELCOME KING FELIX III AND THE

KNIGHTS OF HIS COURT.

-YOU KNOW IF IT'S HISTORICALLY WHITE, OR IF IT'S HISTORICALLY

BLACK, YOU KNOW THEY, THEY KEEP IT THAT WAY BECAUSE

THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS.

BUT IT'S JUST THE WAY TOO FOR MOBILE TO SAY, OK, WELL YEAH,

THERE-- LIKE I SAID THERE IS A BARRIER BECAUSE THESE GROUPS

WERE FOUNDED AS AFRICAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS, OR A

CAUCASIAN ORGANIZATIONS, BUT IT'S NOT A SNOBBISH, OK, WE

CAN'T ASSOCIATE WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THIS.

IT'S THE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE OH, THEY REALLY DO MINGLE AND

GET ALONG, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS THAT JOSEPH

AND I WANT TO GO TO THE MCA CARNATION.

BECAUSE I THINK WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE

[INAUDIBLE] KING AND QUEEN HAVE EVER GONE.

-THIS IS SO HEAVY.

MY MOTHER IS HERE.

THIS IS GOING TO--

I'M GOING TO FALL OVER BACKWARDS.

-HERE WE GO.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

-MY DRESS IS SEE THROUGH WE JUST FOUND OUT.

SOMEONE'S TRYING TO BRING A SLIP BUT THERE'S A TRAFFIC JAM

ON THE HIGHWAY.

[LAUGHTER]

ANNOUNCER (OFFSCREEN): LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE

103RD CORONATION OF A MOBILE MARDI GRAS QUEEN OF THE 134TH

YEAR OF CARNIVAL IN OUR BELOVED MOBILE, ALABAMA, WHERE

THE AMERICAN MARDI GRAS CARNIVAL BEGAN.

[MUSIC]

ANNOUNCER: HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, KING FELIX III, EMPEROR OF

MIRTH AND JOY.

LORD OF MISRULE.

[INAUDIBLE]

BARRY BRUCKMAN.

[APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

ANNOUNCER: KING FELIX IS ATTENDED BY HIS [INAUDIBLE]

AND MASTER JOHN RICHIE MCPHERSON PRINCE, JUNIOR.

[APPLAUSE]

-DAVID COOK.

[MUSIC]

ANNOUNCER: HER GRACIOUS MAJESTY, QUEEN HELEN.

HELEN BEATRICE MEAHER EMPRESS OF CHARM AND BEAUTY.

RULER OF OUR HEARTS.

[APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

[CHEERING]

[MUSIC]

ANNOUNCER: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PRESENTING KING

ALEXIS I, QUEEN STEPHANIE OF MOBILE AREA MARDI GRAS

ASSOCIATION.

THEY'RE HERE TO GREET KING FELIX AND QUEEN HELEN.

[APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

FEMALE NARRATING: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER IN HISTORY

THAT THE MAMGA KING AND QUEEN EVER ATTENDED THE MCA

CORONATION.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, TO ACTUALLY BE ANNOUNCED AND

CALLED OUT AND HAVE TO WALK OUT.

THAT WAS AMAZING TO ME.

BUT I WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK WE

WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

[MUSIC]

FEMALE NARRATING: I THOUGHT IT WAS SO NICE

THAT THEY DID COME.

AND THEY WERE JUST LIKE, WHEN YOU GET OUT THERE AND RIGHT

AFTER MAX CROWNS YOU, YOU NEED TO TELL HIM THAT-- THAT

THERE'S A CHANGE OF PLANS.

[MUSIC]

MALE NARRATING: AS SOON AS MR. COOPER FOUND OUT, YOU KNOW,

HEY, WE GOT THE MAMGA KING AND QUEEN IN HERE, IT WAS LIKE

EVERYTHING AROUND US CHANGED.

GIVE THEM ANYTHING THEY WANT.

AND, I MEAN, HE SAID THAT.

HE REALLY MEANT IT TO WHERE HE EVEN ASSIGNED A WAITER TO US.

FOR THEM TO INCLUDE US IN THEIR CORONATION--

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

HE REALLY DIDN'T.

THEY KIND OF GAVE US THE CUES OF WHERE TO STOP

AND WHERE TO WAVE.

AND WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS THE PARENTS OF THE KING AND QUEEN

AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SO WE STOPPED THERE AND WE CAME AROUND.

AND JUST TO SEE THE PEOPLE APPLAUD AND STANDING UP AND

ALL HAIL THE KING ALEXIS AND--

AND QUEEN STEPHANIE.

IT WAS VERY SPECIAL.

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

FEMALE NARRATING: MTR.

COOPER TOLD US THAT WE GOT THE BIGGEST OVATION BECAUSE IT WAS

JUST A SHOCK FOR THEM FOR US TO EVEN BE THERE.

-YOU KNOW.

LIKE YOU WOULD DO AT YOUR HOME IF A GUEST ARRIVED.

YOU MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME.

AND I DON'T KNOW A BETTER WAY TO MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME ON

BUT TO INTRODUCE THEM TO ENTIR--

ENTIRE AUDIENCE.

AND--

AND I DIDN'T KNOW.

BUT I FELT VERY SURE, I FELT VERY SURE THAT THEIR RECEPTION

WOULD BE THAT WAY.

IT'S MOBILE 2007.

THOSE DAYS ARE GONE.

-THERE WAS A TIME NOT VERY LONG AGO WHEN THAT WOULD HAVE

ABSOLUTELY NEVER OCCURRED.

THEN AGAIN, THE WHOLE COURT DIDN'T GO.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

BECAUSE I THINK THAT-- IT'S NOT-- THEY'RE NOT

READY FOR THAT YET.

THEY'RE NOT READY FOR THE COURT OF ONE TO VISIT THE--

THE BALL OF THE OTHER.

-THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

FEMALE NARRATING: I HOPE IT ENCOURAGES THE KING--

MAMGA'S KING AND QUEEN TO GO EVERY YEAR.

AND MAYBE AT SOME POINT--

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO ON THE SUNDAY NIGHT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE AT SOME POINT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COME TO THE MAMGA

CORONATION.

I DON'T KNOW WHO.

MAYBE.

I DON'T KNOW.

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

[LAUGHTER]

-THERE'S IS GORGEOUS.

BUT IT'S--

IT'S NOT AS FORMAL AS OURS.

IT'S KIND OF IN--

I DON'T WANT TO SAY INFORMAL.

BUT LIKE THE KNIGHTS AND STUFF, THEY BE UP THERE WITH

THEIR LADY.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY KINDA BE TALKING AND--

-NO WAY.

-UH UH.

NOT STANDING UP THERE.

OH, SHE REAL QUIET.

SHE'S SWEET THOUGH.

SHE REAL QUIET.

ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE]

SON OF MR. [INAUDIBLE]

JONES.

[MUSIC]

[APPLAUSE]

ANNOUNCER: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PRESENTING THE

KNIGHTS OF THE 67TH PRESENTATION OF THE MOBILE

AREA MARDI GRAS ASSOCIATION.

[MUSIC]

ANNOUNCER: PRESENTING KING ALEXIS I. KING OF THE 67TH

PRESENTATION OF THE MOBILE AREA MARDI GRAS ASSOCIATION.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS , KING JOSEPH JERMAINE ROBESON.

[MUSIC]

[MUSIC]

ANNOUNCER: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HER GRACIOUS

MAJESTY, QUEEN STEPHANIE [INAUDIBLE].

[MUSIC]

[APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

[APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

-IT'S OK.

THESE ARE SOME BRAND NEW SHOES.

THESE ARE BEING THROWN AWAY.

-OH, HERE THEY GO.

I TOOK THEM OFF OF MY FEET.

MALE SPEAKER (OFFSCREEN): GOT IT.

NOW HOLD WHERE YOU ARE.

[CAMERA BEEPING]

[MUSIC]

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

-THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON RIGHT HERE.

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

-HEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

-THINGS ARE GREAT.

GREAT.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

-YOU TOO.

HOW YOU DOING?

-DOING GREAT.

CONGRATS.

-YEAH.

-HI, AGAIN.

HOW ARE Y'ALL?

-GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU?

-GOOD.

ARE Y'ALL READY FOR THIS?

-YEAH.

WE'RE READY.

-NOT NERVOUS OR ANYTHING?

-WE JUST DID THE CORONATION SO I'M GOOD NOW.

ANNOUNCER: ALL RIGHT, PUT YOUR HANDS

TOGETHER FOR THE COMRADES.

YOU GONNA HAVE A MARDI GRAS PARTY UP IN HERE TONIGHT.

GRAB THE UMBRELLAS.

BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO GET REAL BUSY.

[MUSIC]

MALE NARRATING: I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE COMRADES BALL

SINCE 2004.

AND OUR YEAR, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE THE MCA KING

AND QUEEN AND THE MAMGA KING AND QUEEN

INTERACTED LIKE THAT .

I MEAN MINGLED IN THE CROWD.

TOOK PICTURES WITH PEOPLE.

DANCING TOGETHER.

WALK TOGETHER.

LIKE, WE ACTUALLY MINGLED.

MALE NARRATING: I DON'T THINK WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

BUT WE KINDA JUST GOT CARRIED AWAY WITH IT.

-I FELT LIKE A ROCK STAR.

I FELT LIKE I WAS UP THERE LIKE AT A CONCERT.

-HE KEPT ASKING ME WHILE WE WERE DANCING, HE WAS LIKE,

THIS IS THE BEST.

DO Y'ALL DO THIS ALL THE TIME?

[MUSIC]

MALE NARRATING: I THINK IF--IF THERE WAS ANYTHING, YOU KNOW,

TO HELP, YOU KNOW--

I HATE TO SAY THE WORD BRING IT TOGETHER BECAUSE IT-- IT

IMPLIES THEY'RE MORE SEGREGATED THAN I

THINK THAT THEY ARE.

I JUST THINK PEOPLE TEND TO CHOOSE TO GO SPEND TIME WITH

WHAT THEIR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DOING FOR

GENERATIONS AND YEARS.

AND THAT'S JUST WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO.

BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD GET MORE PEOPLE TO GO TO

THE COMRADES BECAUSE THEY'D LOVE IT. 'CAUSE IT'S SUCH AN

EYE OPENER.

IT'S SUCH A GREAT PARTY.

-[INAUDIBLE], COME ON.

WE GOTTA TAKE A PICTURE.

-THANK YOU.

YOU LOOK GOOD TOO.

MALE NARRATING: I THINK THE SEPARATION IS MORE SO TO

PRESERVE OUR OWN PERSPECTIVES ON MARDI GRAS.

BUT WE SHOULD STILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF ACTIVITY WHERE BOTH

COURTS AND BOTH ORGANIZATIONS CAN REALLY GET TO KNOW EACH

OTHER AND-- AND NOT JUST BE THE FOCAL POINTS OF MARDI GRAS

AND JUST SEE EACH OTHER AT THE COMRADES BALL AND THAT BE IT.

I THINK IT'S-- IT'S A LOT OF TIME TIL WHEN WE CAN SIT DOWN

AND BREAK BREAD WITH ONE ANOTHER AND FIND OUT A LITTLE

BIT MORE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

[MUSIC]

MALE NARRATING: I THINK THAT IF I WAS TO SEE THEM LIKE A

MONTH OR SO FROM NOW, THEY'LL REMEMBER WHO I AM.

AND, HEY, TUTU.

SO NEXT YEAR I WILL MOST DEFINITELY BE ATTENDING SOME

MORE MCA EVENTS.

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

[MARCHING BAND]

-IT'S MAMGA FITTING TO COME.

Y'ALL BETTER TURN AROUND AND GO BACK UP THERE.

-WHY?

-IT'S THE BLACK PARADE.

IT'S OUR TIME.

Y'ALL GONNA MISS THE BIG BOOM BOOM.

Y'ALL BETTER PACK HER UP AND COME ON UP HERE.

-[INAUDIBLE]

-Y'ALL AIN'T GOT ENOUGH GOING ON HERE.

[MUSIC]

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

[MARCHING BAND]

[CHEERING]

[MARCHING BAND]

[CHEERING]

-MY NAME IS DE ANDRA BAILEY.

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE FIFTH GRADE WAS I GOT TO BE IN

THE CLASS WITH THE REAL QUEEN OF MARDI GRAS.

I WENT TO THE CORONATION AND WATCHED HER BE

THE QUEEN SHE IS.

MALE NARRATING: WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS QUEEN, THEY, UH--

CAME TO THE HOUSE AND PRESENTED THAT TO HER.

AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT SAYS.

THE CORONATION COMMITTEE OF THE CARNIVAL ASSOCIATION FOR

QUEEN MARGARET WILSON LUCE.

UH--

YOU'RE GRANDMAMA HAD HER HANDS FULL GETTING IT ALL DONE.

AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH IT.

THE NIGHT--

THE NIGHT THEY CAME BY TO PICK HER UP THEY COME-- THEY COME

IN A BUS WITH ALL THE LADIES ON THE BUS.

SO I'D SET UP TABLES IN THE FRONT YARD.

HAD A HELL OF A PARTY OUT THERE.

[LAUGHTER]

YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GOOD SPIRIT.

IT DEVELOPED INTO A FUN TIME.

I MEAN, OH, YOU CAN MAKE SOMETHING BAD OUT OF ANYTHING.

I MEAN--

AND THE SPIRIT OF MARDI GRAS'S FUN.

[MUSIC]

-GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, AND WELCOME TO THE 140TH

ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE ORDER OF MYTHS.

WE ARE THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY PARADING

MYSTIC SOCIETY IN EXISTENCE.

[MUSIC]

MALE NARRATING: I KNOW THAT THERE'S A TIME, THERE'S A

PLACE FOR CHANGE.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO SHUN THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE

FORCED ON IT RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, IT'S WORKED WELL FOR YEARS FOR--FOR 100 YEARS.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE PROBLEMS WITH ANY LARGE EVENT.

THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO

HAVE ISSUES WITH ANYTHING.

THAT'S--

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T AVOID THAT.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.

BUT MY OPINION, NOTHING NEEDS TO CHANGE.

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

[CHEERING]

[BACKGROUND NOISES]

[MUSIC]

-I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT I WILL NOT

PERMIT YOU TO RECORD.

FEMALE SPEAKER (OFFSCREEN): OK.

[MUSIC]