All Saints Day Second Line

PHOTOS BY JOHN SCHENKEN

For 20 years, the Backstreet Cultural Museum has hosted a second line parade on All Saints Day to honor the lives of musicians and culture bearers who have passed away in the previous year. 

For the momentous anniversary this year, the museum honored numerous people who have passed on in other years as well. For a full deep dive into the tradition, read my colleague Geraldine Wyckoff’s piece in the Louisiana Weekly here.

The parade, which was led by the Tremé Brass Band, started at the Rhodes Funeral home on N. Claiborne and meandered through the 7th and 6th wards before winding up at the museum in the heart of Tremé. With trombonist and vocalist Glen David Andrews singing at his gospel music-inspired heart out, the dead were honored.

Besides Andrews and bandleader Benny Jones, Big Chief Victor Harris of the Fi Yi Yi Mardi Gras Indians was an active participant in the parade as was a masked member of the North Side Skull and Bone gang.  In the photo below, the “skeleton”greets members of the staff of Craig elementary school.