The short documentary above celebrates womanhood by spotlighting the baby dolls — one of the earliest Mardi Gras traditions established by Black women.
They were born during the Jim Crow era of New Orleans. Black Americans, who were segregated during Mardi Gras created their own traditions. These included the baby dolls, which wore ornate dresses, and carried decorated umbrellas. Seeing these dolls was a way for women to be themselves, which I discovered while studying at Xavier University of Louisiana. They were fierce and unapologetic about their self-liberation, challenging society’s expectations of them.
Their rich personal stories provided wisdom about how to live a life of purpose, thrive, and achieve your goals. They also shared their experiences about what it means to be a member of the African diaspora and what it means to have full permission to assume a different identity. Masking traditions like these are a way of setting oneself free in the hope of coming closer to one’s most authentic self.
Vashni is a journalist and filmmaker based in Los Angeles.
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Source: NY Times
