Preserving the Parade: Documenting the West Indian–American Labor Day Carnival

Many Americans think Mardi Gras is for getting plastered and piling on shiny plastic beads. But not only is the event itself steeped in history, its tradition of wildly creative costumes has deep roots, as well. Tonight’s panel—which includes Jean Alexander, board member of the West Indian–American Day Carnival Association, Les Slater, a Caribbean folklore specialist, and mask-maker Kathy Hernandez—addresses the challenges of preserving, documenting and displaying these outrageous outfits.