Second line is a tradition in brass band parades in New Orleans, Louisiana. The
"main line" or "first line" is the main section of the parade, or the members of
the actual club with the parading permit as well as the brass band. Those who
follow the band just to enjoy the music are called the "second line." The second
line's style of traditional dance, in which participants walk and sometimes
twirl a parasol or handkerchief in the air, is called "second lining." It has
been called "the quintessential New Orleans art form – a jazz funeral
without a body." Another significant difference from so called "jazz
funerals" is second line parades usually lack the slow hymns and dirges played at
funerals. Origins
Some scholars believe that second lining has its origins in traditional West
African circle dances, where children formed a periphery circle outside the
main circle of adult dancers. The dance was brought by slaves to New Orleans,
where it became incorporated into processions, such as funerals, forcing
the ring to straighten into a line. Others note the similarity of the steps
– exaggerated, loosely coordinated strutting – to dances performed in Congo
Square by the enslaved given the day off on Sundays. These dances were officially
banned for a time because they were deemed threatening to the white
inhabitants of the city, and their resurgence in second lining suggests a
similar celebration of individual freedom.
After the Civil War, African and African-American traditions came to be
merged with the military brass band parade traditions of the Europeans and
white Americans. Insurance companies often refused to cover the recently
freed formerly enslaved, so African Americans formed into Benevolent
Societies and "Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs". Membership benefits usually
included a brass band for funerals and at least one public parade with music a
year, so such societies became important in establishing the second line
traditions. The Second Line – the magazine of the
New Orleans jazz club, started in 1950 – took its name from the second lining
tradition, which by that time included fans of jazz music, both black and
white. Modern second lining
Second line parades are part of the cultural heritage of New Orleans.
The locally best known second line parades are held by clubs and benevolent
organizations. Some have long histories; the oldest such organization still
holding regular parades is the Young Men Olympian Junior Benevolent Association,
founded in 1884. During the "second line season", lasting most of the year with
breaks for holidays and the hottest part of summer, there are second line parades
most Sundays. Longer parades often make stops, commonly at bars, where
refreshments have been arranged for members and those following the parade
for fun can purchase something. There are often vendors selling soft drinks,
beer, and street food, including barbecue and yaka mein.
Additional second lines, large or small, may be held for any event which people
think merits hiring a parading band for such a style of celebration, including
weddings and opening of businesses. The historic predominantly
African-American neighborhoods of Tremé and Central City are most strongly
associated with the traditions, though second lines can often be seen in the
Seventh Ward, Uptown, Marigny, Ninth Ward, Mid-City, and at least on occasion
in most of the older neighborhoods of the city. The New Orleans Jazz &
Heritage Festival holds second lines at the Fair Grounds each day of the
festival to give visitors a taste of this New Orleans tradition.
Historically, the parades were unofficial events and had an air of
menace. A second line parade was featured in the 1973 James Bond film
Live and Let Die. Later, the opening episode of the HBO series Treme featured
a second line parade and journalists championed second line culture. After
Hurricane Katrina, new residents of New Orleans embraced the second line
tradition and it became part of the cultural economy of the city. Parade
routes were publicized online inviting outsiders to participate.
The overwhelming majority of second line events have been peaceful, but like any
other public event where large numbers of people gather, violence has marred
some parades in recent years, most notoriously in the 2013 Mother's Day
Parade shooting. = Other places =
Though originally a New Orleans phenomenon, in recent times the style
has spread to other parts of the country; the HONK! Festival in
Somerville, MA, was started by The Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure
Society Brass Band. Asheville, North Carolina has the "Asheville Second Line
Band", which marches at parades and other events in Asheville. Still, second
lining remains most common in the New Orleans area.
References External links
Nick Spitzer, "Rebuilding the 'Land of Dreams:' Expressive Culture and New
Orleans' Authentic Future" Southern Spaces, 29 August 2006
Nick Spitzer, "Love and Death at Second Line" Southern Spaces, 20 February 2004.
A Jazz Funeral – including pictures of second-liners
Jazz Times: New Orleans’ Second Lines The New Orleans Jazz Club
Mardi Gras Digest: History of the Secondline