Mardi Gras brings joy to New Orleans but not to its workforce

Too often, the economic benefits of New Orleans signature industries do not translate into opportunity or stability for those workers, particularly Black residents and women.

By: Ofronama Biu, Nicole Caridad Ralston

Outlets: Louisiana Illuminator

Published: February 20, 2026

Words: 1,147

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 5 days ago

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As Mardi Gras season wraps up, crowds gathering in the Tremé danced past the bright mural of Marion Colbert — the “Banana Lady of Tremé ”— who, between shifts as a bathroom attendant at Brennan’s, took care of the children of working moms in the neighborhood.

Her memory is woven into the rhythm of New Orleans: joyful, generous and sustained by labor that rarely earned what it was worth. Today, the …

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