Across his songs, stories, and interviews, Danny Barker embraced the rhythms and archetypes of African American folklore, using his skills as a writer and storyteller to paint indelible portraits of his own folk creations. Here are excerpts illustrating five of his best characters.
Since the 1890s, Black Carnival clubs have presented debutantes at their elegant annual balls.
Ever wanted to take New Orleans History 101? While no intro course can be comprehensive, we've assembled 13 summaries of major themes, events, people, and places, with lots of links to further reading.
The photographer and art-world star makes his New Orleans debut at THNOC with a powerful pair of installations for Prospect.5.
A mysterious illness took the life of Oscar Dunn, the first Black man to serve as a lieutenant governor in US history. Now, 150 years later, we look back at the circumstances of his death and whether is was murder.
Norbert Rillieux patented the process of sugar refinement changed the industry, but the free man of color faced racist discrimination from the government and clients.
The full extent of the storm’s impact on coastal demographics remains to be seen, but for Louisiana’s indigenous people, it’s another wave in a long saga of forced migration and environmental adaptation going back hundreds of years.
The work of the Decorative Arts of the Gulf South project has revealed stories of African American material culture throughout the region.
Access to capture the intimate action of a second line is earned over beers in favorite club watering holes, in the quieter moments that precede and conclude a parade, and during the kinetic events themselves, where unspoken rules of artistic engagement are observed.
Untold thousands have gathered under the Economy Hall tent at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to hear traditional local music, but how many have known the history behind the name?
