Tambourine & Fan

Tambourine & Fan

By:Kenyatta_Ruth

Updated: 7/19/2023

As a Kid

I second-lined with tambourine and fan.

In sequence we synchronized to a single filed & criss crossed line “called out by the leader”.

Lady Kenyatta Ruth Second Lining

We footwork to the beat of the band.

Lady Kenyatta Ruth Second Lining

From hunters field to the bayou as plan.

Lady Kenyatta Ruth Second Lining

Cavorting from the heart.

Then back to the park.

Our route began up the Claiborne Corridor, on to Orleans, right side of the bridge.

Every Super Sunday As a Kid.

Lady Kenyatta Ruth Second Lining

All participants would dress alike in our well orchestrated Sunday’s best.

On this particular day we were the best dressed.

With our matching attires.

Parading in festive decorative sashes with umbrellas and brand new loafers or boots.

Dancing with the Indians and tribes, adored in beautifully embellished hand stitched suits.

Our family home (1621/1619 N. Villere St.)

Throw-Back Family Portrait Grandma Peaches, Brother Shawn, Brother Charles.

was actually two doors down from one of the most prominent Indians in the land on

Villere St.

Throw-Back Portrait Of Our Family Celebrating Mardi Gras Under The Claiborne Corridor/Bridge.

“The Head Honcho”

Allison “Tootie” Montana

Allison "Tootie" Montana was Big Chief of the Yellow Pocahontas Mardi Gras Indian tribe in New Orleans.

Me, Walter and Shawn attended Hunter’s Field after school & summer programs.

While they were in football practices. I was in Arts, Dance & Community Services expanding my knowledge of principal organizational skills under the leadership of Big Duck & Big Ike, our community leaders and disciplinary authoritarians.

Whenever we misbehaved (we duck walked) backwards & forwards several time’s in a row.

Or either we got hide on our derrières with (MEAT).

Our Culture Keeper’s

Isaiah Joseph Bennett & Jerome Smith.

https://www.facebook.com/100068617813884/posts/pfbid035Nt4t78qX8KUn9tYD6R4Cm8TP2EMgntixvXeyKH66miefbcTXWErWy3DoWRKvFuUl/?mibextid=cr9u03

Meat was this special paddle of corrections. Big Ike used this tools for our chastisement.

“Back in the days” The Elders & Community leaders were allowed permissions to whip your posterior. Then bring you home to your parents to receive a posterior-whipping from them for your transgressions.

You couldn’t sit on your gluteus- Maximus for a while.

We all were well taken care of under the care of Tambourine & Fan. We received multiple resources. Big Duck & Big Ike even employed the youth in our community. Both of these men would go to war (combat) behind every single child/teen in their programs.

Our Culture Keeper’s

Isaiah Joseph Bennett & Jerome Smith.

https://www.facebook.com/104235691866553/posts/pfbid02DEHfDDe6QtoBXKURciM4qXkaUypKrCvbefbvH5zYEFZFgj6f77FogyAehdd6DEtpl/?mibextid=SDPelY

Our neighborhood father’s, our mentors who advocated for us.

They were our voices in the wilderness, our liaisons. Keeping us safe in the trenches of an oppressed community.

Every year alpha month all students of Marie C. Couvant would receive a free red and white cake to take home, in celebration of all January birthday’s.

They taught us our history (Black History) along with the Lundi & Mardi Gras historical contexts . Line upon line & precepts upon precepts.

Treme programs were Spearheaded , fostered and nurtured by Big Duck & Big Ike. These men were a very large part (Positive Influencers) of our education and curriculums full circle, in our inner-city schools.

We also received free swimming lessons, learned to sew & stitch, Studied Politics and Economics, gleaned cultivation, played basketball & football. We even frolicked throughout Armstrong park daily. Gaining free admissions into the Mahalia Jackson Theatre while attending camp in Treme Center.

We enjoyed our Municipal Auditorium and the events held in Congo Square.

The Municipal Auditorium was a 7,853-seat multi-purpose arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a component of the New Orleans Cultural Center.

Our Culture Keeper’s

Isaiah Joseph Bennett & Jerome Smith.

Below are a few more of their impartations transfused to us as kids...

~We recited~ religiously Every Morning & Evening, Alpha and Omega at our after school program, summer program and day camps daily.

What Is Dope?

What Is Dope?

Dope is poison and death...

Who the man that use dope?

A dead man...

Who was Dr. King?

Dr. King was a Freedom Fighter...

Who was Malcolm X?

Malcolm X was a man trying to make things better for black people...

Why do hunters study?

To Build Control...

What do they study?

Reading, Math and Science...

What time is it?

It’s nation time•••

~Song

Tambourine And Fan

The tambourine was born

down in New Orleans

In a little field they call Congo Square.

The tambourine was heard by Lewis and Celestine,

my sister Mahalia the world’s gospel Queen.

I stand here today with my tambourine in my hand and represent the hunter’s of the Tambourine And Fan

Forever Grateful 💃🏾

Circle Food Store

Claiborne Corridor

Treme

Hard Head

NOLA Girl

Cajun

Creole

Bayou Baby 🎶🎥🎷🪘🎼🪕🎻🪈🎸🥁🎤

Laissez les bons temps rouler

The expression Laissez les bons temps rouler is a Cajun French phrase. The phrase is a calque of the English phrase "let the good times roll", that is, a word-for-word translation of the English phrase into Cajun French.