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Mummers Work To Become More Inclusive In Approach Similar To Once Exclusive Mardi Gras

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Mummers are still dealing with the fallout following its latest parade, which featured offensive brown face and racially insensitive performances.

It's not the only folk festival that's suffered growing pains because of hate speech.

Mardi Gras is America's most popular party. But New Orleans spent years in the throws of debate over racial segregation and bigotry within the ranks of Mardi Gras. The carnival has a very exclusive, white male history. Krewes, private organizations, marched throughout the city and were slow to allow women or people of color. But over time, public outrage and city intervention, forced change to result in a more inclusive 12-day event.

The Mummers in Philadelphia have a similar beginning to Mardi Gras. Could it have a similar outcome?

"Sometimes you have to make lemonade out of lemons," says George Badey, spokesman for the Mummers. He says the recent outrage over Mummers dressed in "brown face," holding "Wench Lives Matter" signs and dressing as Caitlyn Jenner, could be good for their organization.

"Without bringing this issue to the forefront like this it may have taken a lot longer for this to happen," he says, "I think change will happen a lot sooner now."

So, Badey says, the Mummers are taking the punch of criticism on the chin. Earlier this week, Mummer leaders promised to implement sensitivity training, vet skits, meet with LGBT and other groups and to create other measures that will make the Mummers more welcoming.

"We want this parade to grow and be better and be more representative of the entire city," he says.

And it could be a perfect storm for change. Public outrage, plus a new mayor who is a Mummer, could provide the environment to build necessary bridges.

"It has a history of segregation, it has a history of being white and ethnic...and we need to change that," says Mayor Jim Kenney. "Sometimes these ugly things open up the opportunity for people to understand each other."

Rue Landau, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, is very supportive of the Mummer plan for change. She helped push the group to welcome more cultural and ethnically diverse marchers in this year's parade, but says more needs to be done.

"Now we know and it is clear that there will be push back," says Landau, "from the administration-- from the top down people want change."

Landau, who is an attorney, says first amendment rights prevent the city from acting as a censor.

"We respect their rights- it's very important," she says, "so if the Mummers want change they need to self-police they need to make a culture of change within their organization."

Badey says the Mummers want the change. They want they parade to grow, but realize there may be some pain in the process.

"My dream is that 50 years from now-- the Mummers Parade is the biggest international event on New Years Day," he says, "I want it to be the place to be on New Years Day, for it to represent everyone and be a great celebration of our city."

 

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