Members of New Orleans' Mardi Gras Indian community, also known as Black Masking Indians, continue a cultural tradition that has persisted since the 1800s. The practice involves Black residents of the city creating elaborate, handmade suits that are worn during Mardi Gras celebrations.

Participants spend months preparing for the annual event, painstakingly handcrafting their suits in secret for the better part of a year. The detailed work results in stunning ceremonial costumes that are worn while marching through New Orleans neighborhoods during Mardi Gras festivities.

The tradition is organized around a structured hierarchy within each group, referred to as tribes. These include designated roles such as big chiefs, spy boys, flag boys, wild men, and a big queen. Each tribe operates with this established organization as they participate in the annual celebrations.

A central element of the tradition involves mock battles between different tribes, where groups square off to determine who creates the most impressive display, described in their terminology as being the "prettiest." These confrontations are ceremonial in nature and represent a competitive aspect of the cultural practice.

Practitioners say the tradition serves to honor their ancestors, maintaining a cultural connection that has been passed down through generations of Black New Orleans residents. The secretive nature of the suit preparation adds to the mystique surrounding what participants describe as one of America's enduring cultural traditions.