Black Men Of Labor

Founded 1993

History of the Black Men of Labor       

  The streets of New Orleans was filled with the sweet sounds of Traditional Jazz music which has made New Orleans the renowned capital it is for the unique genere, along with the sights, sounds and smells of a second line processional.  The Black Men of Labor (BMOL) celebrated Labor Day by showcasing African and African American culture and talent through the Art of Dance and Music. 

Fred Johnson, one of the founders of the BMOL said the parade pays tribute and respect to all hard working men and women who gave the Crescent City and the world the sweet sounds of Jazz in all its variations This year is extremely important because the first-liners, the BMOL will celebrate in Memorial, the Birthday of Legendary Jazz Musician Danny Barker, who turned 100 years old on January 13, 2009.

  In addition the BMOL and participatory second-liners will also pay tribute and respect to Legendary Pop King Michael Jackson and beloved band director Edwin Hampton of St. Augustine Marching 100.  The New Orleans Traditional Jazz Brass Band music will be performed by the legendary Treme Brass Band/ the New Orleans Young Traditional Jazz Band and the HOT8 Brass Band dressed in traditional parade uniforms.

 The BMOL had Two(2) Divisions of men, hit the streets this season, dressed in their traditional African Garment with matching umbrella and handkerchiefs, in the colors of pink and green, with the primary color of eggshell white.  Adorned with 3demencional streamer and decorative fans, the hats, shoes, and even the eggshell socks weighed in, completing their ensemble which has distinguished them from all other parading organizations. It was indeed, the best we have seen to date on the streets and will most certainly vie for first placed in the Top 10 Best Dressed Mainline Clubs for the 2009-2010 season.

 The annual portrait taken by the media pool that was in attendance, each year, showed once again that the club is still having a very hard time controlling the press. Access to club members, by the hordes of sheer opportunists that show up every season to snap pictures for reasons of their own, continue to believe that the mainstream media should step aside to give them the clearance to shoot pictures to sell and write stories that have no research, no truth, and no resemblance to the actual club goals that it espouses to have.