Mask shaped sign used in a Black Men of Labor parade in New Orleans, LA
date: label: Date
content: 2012
name: label: Manufactured by
content: Unidentified
label: Used by
content: Black Men of Labor, Inc., American, founded 1994
notes: label: Caption
content: The Black Men of Labor (BMOL) is an exclusively all-male krewe, or parading group in New Orleans founded in 1993. The founding generation of the organization all came from building arts trade families and the group originally paraded the Sunday of Labor Day weekend in honor of the working men and women of New Orleans.
label: Caption
content: This mask was used by BMOL members during their 2013 annual parade, which had an African-inspired theme. The 2013 theme also reflects the BMOL’s recognition of and connection to the African diaspora.
label: Caption
content: The mission of the BMOL is to "educate, preserve and perpetuate the rich African and African American culture of New Orleans traditional Jazz music. Through arts and culture the BMOL promote civic engagement and creates opportunity for those interested in building sustainable income and wealth" (Black Men of Labor 2013). BMOL is considered one of many benevolent societies that were created in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries to help free and enslaved Africans cope with financial hardships.
label: Description
content: A mask shaped sign used in a Black Men of Labor parade in New Orleans. The mask lacks openings in the face and is not meant to be worn. The mask is predominantly orange and white with black, brown and white sequence adhered to the front cheeks and mouth area. Red, blue, green, orange and silver sequence are adhered to the bridge and nose area. The eyes of the mask are yellow. The mask has orange horns and a white crown. Blue, pink, red, green and orange colored pompoms are adhered to the eyes, chin and top of the mask.
place: label: Place used
content: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
label: Place made
content: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Associations and institutions
label: Topic
content: Building Arts
label: Topic
content: Communities
label: Topic
content: Costume
label: Topic
content: Fraternal organizations
label: Topic
content: Holidays and festivals
label: Topic
content: Jazz (Music)
label: Topic
content: Labor
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: Ornamentation
label: Topic
content: Social reform
label: Topic
content: Societies
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of The Black Men of Labor, Inc.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2015.260.4
objectType: label: Type
content: signs
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Unknown - Restrictions Possible
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: cloth, plastic
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 35 × 17 × 10 in. (88.9 × 43.2 × 25.4 cm)