Dusting my blog off to wish everyone a safe and prosperous 2024.
I may be over here more often…who knows.
I miss being here.
Happy New Year
Mardi Gras 2023 Begins!
The Mystical Order of the Phoenix kicked off the 2023 carnival season with its annual meet and greet at Gordon Biersch Brewery and Restaurant.
We had such an amazing time…this is the type of gathering that fuels my soul!
And to have so many women with us who were also with us in the former krewe was the icing on the cake!!
So many people showed up that we shut the place down…the kitchen couldn’t keep up with us!
I can’t wait to ride in 2023…we ride on my father’s birthday. I think I’m going to make some specialty throws in honor of him.I don’t know what it is yet so if y’all have any ideas…put them in the comments!
Let’s get this party started!
Until We Meet Again.
I’m dusting this blog off because I need to write my thoughts out. This weekend was a really hard one for the family. We had to say goodbye to my nephew/son, Dale. He was affectionately known as my third child because wherever Ryan was, he was right beside him. They were not only first cousins but being born 2 months apart to the day, they were also running buddies…partners in crime.
He’s taking this one really hard…both of my kids are but Rey is more like me, she’s gonna be there for anyone who needs her, and she was. Ry and Dale had a 2-year start before my daughter was born and both were boys so you know they ganged up on her.
She’s my daughter though so, she held her own
It dawned on me that the last homegoing I’d attended was my dad’s, almost 4 years ago. And in true homegoing fashion, you see people that you haven’t seen in ages.
Funerals and weddings always bring people together.
It was a lovely homegoing though…a celebration of the gregarious spirit he will always be…even on the other side.
I’m glad I told him that I loved him the last time we spoke. I’m glad I have so many wonderful memories that include him.
The Fall From Grace
OVER three thousand women of all races stood on the right side of history and left the Mystic Krewe of Nyx in 2020.
Most school bands and walking krewes have pledged to not participate in that parade ever again.
The power of unity is mighty indeed.
Ascension of Phoenix II
Saturday was an absolutely wonderful day to celebrate the ascension of our Phoenix II!The weather was gorgeous and everyone was in really festive mood so it made for a fabulous gathering of friends,food and of course…libations!
I love the diversity and inclusion we possess in our carnival organization. We honestly believe in the empowerment of ALL women. That’s something that’s very important to me considering how some other carnival organizations are.
Ms.Lynn Isbell will reign as Phoenix II for our 2022 ride which will be Saturday,February 19th at 5:30pm.
I.Cannot.Wait!!!
Hail Phoenix!
Happy Juneteeth❤🖤💚💛
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STANKA! You are a joy in this often joyless world.
Happy Mother’s Day!
HAPPY YARDI GRAS!!!
Since there aren’t any parades this year due to covid,New Orleanians have decided to put a spin on Mardi Gras and decorate their homes…hence the name,Yardi Gras.
I love how some house decorations represent the carnival krewes that would’ve rolled this year.
Take a look at how the city of “making lemonade out of lemons” has celebrated this carnival season. Hopefully next year we’ll be back on the streets of NOLA… throwing til it hurts.
HAPPY MARDI GRAS! Stay warm!!
Why I Left the Mystic Krewe of Nyx
Since today is the day the Krewe of Nyx would’ve rolled (thanks covid🙄),I’ve decided to use this day to finally tell why I left the krewe.
*Update…the blog released early,but I’m leaving it up because it’s time I told my story …for closure if nothing else.
As many of you now know ,the captain put out an all lives matter post under the krewe’s instagram page which created pa firestorm. She was asked to step down as Captain which she refused to do.
Honestly, knowing what I know about the “mechanics of carnival krewes” and how in most krewes, the by laws state the Captain is the captain until he/she decides to retire and pick their successor,I didn’t expect her to step down.
Anyone that wants to read up on what happened to the Krewe of Nyx can go to the link…here.
What tossed the krewe out of the window for me,was when she was asked if she would consider putting a black krewe member on the board and her reply was,
So you mean to tell me that black women only get 4 attempts to become board members…but 11 white women were on the board that didn’t work out and some were given second chances and put on the board AGAIN.
This is the problem that black women face when around some white women who claim female empowerment,sisterhood and feminism,
They exclude Black women or put a cap on how involved we can be.
The infamous glass ceiling.
She totally put one on the amount of times black women would be allowed to be a board member.
Last year at the Nyx Myx Ball,all of the African American Float Lieutenants took a picture(above) that I was going to blog and post in celebration of Black History Month. We love the ladies that were on our floats and we were proud to represent them.
Look at that picture again,
…every single woman in this picture has a degree. In this picture are attorney’s, social workers,educators,nurses,etc.
One of the attorney’s is now a criminal court judge.
and you mean to say none of us were worthy of board member consideration?!
I’ve seen white people become board members simply because they’re friends and family of other board members and nothing else.
But a Black woman has to once again prove herself beyond reproach to be considered.
Hell,I should’ve been considered based on loyalty alone.
The fact that alt right wing republican Miriam Owens is now a member just lends credence to what I’ve suspected for awhile now.
I had heard the whispers about the krewe becoming ” too black” for some people.I’ve even had some white friends tell me that other white women had come to them and said it.
So when the all lives fiasco happened and Julie was told to fix it because people were leaving en masse.Her reply of,”well…it’ll weed some people out” left me thinking that she was talking about us…Black Women.
I had no choice but to leave. We clearly weren’t valued and our concerns fell on deaf ears.
When you stop giving a damn about your riders and start packing them on the floats like sardines,I have a problem with that(one year,I had a float that held 60 max…but I had over 70 riders.)
When a tragedy happens and you don’t take a minute to address your riders who are distraught and confused,
When the goddess is left at the end of the route with no ride and has to take a taxi home,
you’re going to create enemies.
And in the age of social media,the news will spread like wildfire.
Julie created a lot of enemies.
Float Lieutenants did a shitload of work in the krewe. Sure,we got about $100 off of dues but,the krewe got that back because it was mandatory that lieutenants attend(and pay for) krewe functions.
For the life of me,I don’t see how she thought that the mass of people out there on the route were out there just for her.
It was the riders who made the krewe what it was. The riders were the ones who threw like crazy and engaged with the crowd.
The riders.
Mardi Gras krewes may be run as a dictatorship,but the riders are the ones who pay the dues and buy the throws that the crowd loves. And it’s their dues that keep the krewe afloat.
The KON captain lost sight of that
and the fact that all lives can’t matter until Black Lives do…
TO EVERYONE.
The Life and Times of Bayoucreole 