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Image of Mardi Gras royalty riding on a parade float, August 5, 1952
a2014.49.092-018-01
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Mardi Gras royalty riding on a parade float, August 5, 1952

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For over 70 years, Seattle’s Black community has a held a summer festival that was part of Seattle's International Festival, now Seafair. The first, in 1952, was called the East Madison/East Union Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras later transformed into the Pacific Northwest Black Community Festival, and in 1997 it became the Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival.

This photo shows the first East Union/East Madison Mardi Gras float on parade in 1952, The Mardi Gras Queen,Clara Carpenter, and her four princesses, wearing masks, sit on the float near an oversized champagne flute overflowing with balloon "bubbles."

Caption information source: “Umoja Fest2021 Brings the Community Together,”South Seattle Emerald, August 11, 2021. Retrieved at
https://southseattleemerald.com/2021/08/11/photo-essay-umoja-fest-2021-brings-the-community-together/
Caption information source: "East Madison/East Union Mardi Gras Festival debuts in Seattle on August 4, 1952" by Peter Blecha, HistoryLink.org Essay 20908
ID Number: 2014.49.092.018.01
Date: 1952
Creator(s): Smith, Albert J., Sr., Photographer
Physical Description: 1 negative : b&w ; 4 x 5 in.
Credit: MOHAI, Al Smith Collection, 2014.49.092.018.01
Copyright: All Rights Reserved
Subjects: Black/African American, Celebrations, Seafair

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