Mystery in Motion: African American Masking and Spirituality in Mardi Gras is a groundbreaking exhibition. It embodies the depth and reach of Black spirituality in the United States and highlights the understudied Carnival traditions of Black New Orleans. The exhibit was guest curated by Kim Vaz-Deville, professor of education, and Ron Bechet, Victor H. Labat Professor of Art, both at Xavier University of Louisiana, for the Louisiana State Museum’s Presbytère, located in New Orleans, from 13 February 2021 to 28 November 2021 (https://mysteryinmotion.info). It makes a number of important contributions to our understanding of this significant African American art form.

First, Mystery in Motion presents more than two dozen feathered and beaded costumes, called “suits.” These suits are not simply costumes but labors of love that express people’s religious beliefs, historical pride, and racial heritage. They are worn by African Americans during Carnival in New Orleans. Referred to...

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