Bobbie Porter, an elder who came from Houston to join her family at the ball, says they faced a lot of racism coming up in New Orleans, were excluded and had to do their own thing. They created the Zulu ball. The “king always came across the river on a boat” and that kicked off the celebration. “Mardi Gras, being a Catholic ‘holiday’ was always dominated by Caucasians, so our people started the Zulu balls and the Native Americans came out to support,” Mrs. Porter professes, also still restlessly moving her body to the beat. She explained, there were plenty social and pleasure clubs. It was common practice for them to “come out” at social balls. They learned how to dress and have proper etiquette at cultural balls. Their fathers would walk them out, a rite of passage. During Mardi Gras they attended the Zulu ball, for which they were prepared because of all the social and pleasure club activities throughout the year.