ALLA makes krewe history with first Black royalty
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The Krewe of ALLA is stepping into the Carnival spotlight Wednesday night, taking over the headlining spot on the Uptown route for the first time.
Why it matters: This year, ALLA will be led by a Black king and queen for the first time in its 93-year history, and it'll host the Six Ward Steppers in the first time a Mardi Gras krewe has invited a second-line club to march with it.
The intrigue: The diversifying moves are especially poignant given the place ALLA holds in the official Carnival calendar this year.
- As the Wednesday headliner, ALLA takes over the space vacated by the Krewe of Nyx, which was booted from parading during the offseason after years of krewe turmoil. One of the krewe's scandals involved an "All Lives Matter" post on Facebook.
- Nyx's parade permit was revoked last year after City Council members said the krewe violated a ban on commercialized throws.
Zoom in: City Council President JP Morrell led the challenge against Nyx, and now he'll serve as grand marshal for ALLA's parade.
- ALLA's royalty includes former City Councilmember James Carter as king and Gian Durand, the secretary of the Louisiana Democratic Party, as queen.
- As the Six Ward Steppers' royalty for 2025, Emline designer James Mayes and Sierra Duplessis will also roll with the parade along with about 20 of their social aid and pleasure club members.
What they're saying: "All of this represents what Mardi Gras should be," Durand said on a recent trip to the ALLA den. "I feel like I have put this puzzle together that should have always been there."
- "It's gonna really hit me how big this moment is."
Durand was key to bringing it all together, too, said Six Ward Steppers president Kim Charbonnet.
- Busy with getting things together for the Steppers' own second-line, Charbonnet hadn't yet called back Durand about possible marching in ALLA.
- So Durand just came knocking down doors to make it happen.
- "She physically showed up in my office and told me all these great things that were going on, and she wanted to include us, and we were 100% on board," Charbonnet tells Axios New Orleans.
- "It's historic. Never has a social aid and pleasure club been included in a parade on this level," she says. "The diversity that this club is putting on is heartwarming to us."
What's next: ALLA rolls on Wednesday, following the Krewe of Druids' 6:15pm start along the Uptown route.
Go deeper: Full parade schedule