The Order of Myths

Mobile, Alabama is home to the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the country. Each year, parades, masked balls and secret mystic societies replay traditions passed down since 1703. Until 1938, African Americans in Mobile were only allowed to bear the parade torches and serve the drinks, so they started their own Carnival party. Now, black and white royal courts, balls, parades and rituals run parallel, never crossing the color line.

Margaret Brown is director of The Order of Myths, a film about the black and white Mardi Gras experiences in Mobile. The film airs on PBS’ Independent Lens series, and she joins us to talk about it.

Check broadcast times for the film

(Photo courtesy reinvented via Flickr/Creative Commons)