All language subtitles for The.Order.Of.Myths.2008.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

[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]