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.
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.
Yeah, I’m a month late and a dollar short, but I’m still here so…let me tell ya all about it!
It was cold. It was wet. It was windy.
And I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Even with the inclement weather, I still had a great time. I don’t know how the Captain does it, but the krewe just keeps getting better and better.
The pre-party was off the chain! Over three thousand women filled the room.
For those who don’t already know, on the day of the ride, all of us meet for a pre-party before we roll on the streets of New Orleans. I love the pre-party because it’s something just for us before we roll and unleash all of our throws onto the city. We get to hang out with sisters we haven’t seen in a while. Some riders live out-of-state, some out of the country and it’s always wonderful being able to spend time with them and the rest of the sisters. Here are a few pics taken at the pre-party,
After the pre-party, we hit the streets and threw til it hurt! Man, I gotta tell ya…that cold/wet/windy combo wasn’t nothing nice! It’s all a part of parading though…some rides will have great weather, some not so great.
I wish I’d taken a picture of the crowd that was out there in the rain supporting us because they were the real MVP’s of the evening. At one point, the rain began to come down pretty hard…I was expecting people to pack up and leave. They did not budge…I was floored. I couldn’t throw to them fast enough. Anything they asked for (expect for purses because I didn’t have anymore) I gave it to them. They more than deserved it.
Shout out to anyone who was out there in that weather with us! You are the real deal!
The krewe is still young (7 years old) and has already topped 3,000 women riders. I’ve been a member for 5 years and this was my first year as a lieutenant. People kept asking me how I liked being in that position. My response was always, “it’s like breathing” because it feels so natural. When you have a passion for something, it doesn’t feel like work.I have no plans to ever leave the krewe. When I’m so old that I can’t climb on the float anymore, then I’ll stop riding.
Nyx has made history in a lot of ways,but what really impresses me the most is the inclusivity. The fact that so many women of color ride in the krewe (and are float lieutenants) speaks volumes. And that inclusivity is visible from the streets. That means a lot when you are a child out there trying to catch throws. I’m not going to even talk about my childhood…when my own kids were young, they didn’t see anyone that looked like them on the floats (and if they had blacks in the krewe, they were few and far between) and my kids are in their 20’s. It’s nice to be in a krewe where diversity is seen.
If you’ve never experienced Mardi Gras in New Orleans before and plan on coming one day, make your reservations so you can catch us! You will not be disappointed! We throw like crazy! See the picture below for evidence…lol.
I’m looking forward to riding in 2019. We ride on Feb.27th…now, I just checked the weather for that day and this year it was clear skies and 72 frigging degrees at night! Imma need the weather gawds to do a repeat for next year.
Until then…
HAIL NYX!
I know this blog post is late like a big dawg, but so much has been going on that it’s getting really hard to keep this ole’ dinosaur afloat.  Bare with me y’all. I’m trying to come up with ways to keep this blog from biting the dust. We’ll discuss more of that later. I had to put out some pics of the Nyx Myx Masquerade Ball which was held in January.
Since so many nyx sisters and future nyx sisters come to the blog looking for pics of events, I had to put out some pics of the Nyx Myx Masquerade Ball which was held in January.
We had a new venue this year. The ball was held at the Convention Center and the last thing anyone can say is that they didn’t have room because…WE DID. It was beautifully decorated and spacious. Â The Captain looked stunning as always and Goddess Nyx VI is the beautiful Zenia Williams.
I do miss the Hilton, but we’ve outgrown her. I’m looking forward to getting as acquainted with the new venue as I was with the old one.
After the 3 course dinner, we danced the night away. I had a wonderful time. I should have taken a picture of my shoes because I have officially given up on wearing heels to the ball. I walk around and dance entirely too much so I purchased a pair of blinged out sneakers to wear.  They felt like slippers! They were sooo comfy. I don’t  believe in suffering for the cause. My dress will by fly, but I won’t wear heels and dance for hours on end…nada.
Here are a few pics of the ball. I love going to the ball…it’s my favorite event.
Yes, I am a bad BayouCreole. This is so unlike me. Mardi Gras is in full swing and I have not blogged a thing. I have so much going on right now it’s crazy, but I will be back soon with a full recap on my season with Nyx (Nyx turns Syx) and other happenings.
I just wanna say that my ride was epic. Â Last year was so fantastic, I didn’t think it could get any better…but apparently it could because last night was over the moon!
Perfect weather, perfect crowd, and perfect krewe. It.Was.Amazing. I have to shout out the Captain of the krewe, Julie Lea. It was her vision to bring about another all-female krewe to ride at night. We are 2,900 women strong.She’s the one who keeps it all together…and she does one helluva job. Well done Julie…very well indeed.
I don’t usually go to the parades on Friday so, I’ll put a post up then about the ride and the work my way back to the ball.
I am one tired duck, but I wouldn’t trade if for anything.
Happy Mardi Gras y’all!
This is what happens when faith meets works. I kept the positive karma around me hard and heavy and…
Ta DAAA!
I got the application to join the Krewe!!
Man, I had the positive karma in overdrive around here!
The signature throw for Nyx is the decorated purse so, I amped up the positive energy flow big time around the house and decorated a slew of them!
My favorite is the cure dat purse,
Now ya girl will have all sorts of new and exciting stuff to blog about when it gets closer to carnival time! Â I recently turned in my application with all the required information.
Nyx is such an awesome krewe and they’re growing  like crazy.
I honestly think that, by  time this krewe hits its 5th year,they’ll  be at super krewe status.
I’m so happy that I’m officially a part of this amazing sisterhood!
I can’t wait to get on the float and throw til it hurts!
Let the countdown begin…
February 26th we roll!
Considering the amount of women trying to get in the krewe, I think it’s pretty amazing that I made it.
Won’t he do it?
YES.HE.WILL!
Whoo Hoo!
Have a wonderful weekend y’all!
The Life and Times of Bayoucreole 