Spy Boy

"Spy Boy" is the author's Mardi Gras 2000 virtual poster, representing New Orleans' Mardi Gras Indians. On Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, if you're lucky enough to see some of the Mardi Gras Indians, the first Indian you're likely to see is the Spy Boy.

As Larry Bannock explains: "There's different ranks--it's kinda loose--depending on the gang. Some have Spy Boy, Spy Flag, Flag Boy, Gang Flag; some have 1st Flag, 2nd Flag, 1st Chief, 2nd Chief... there's always going to be only one Big Chief though.

"The Spy Boy is first in the front, he is the baddest of all the Indians... he is ahead looking for trouble. Only a chosen few can be Spy Boy. It's his job to send a signal to First Flag when he sees other Indians. First Flag signals back down the line to Big Chief. Big Chief has a stick that controls the Indians. When he hits the ground with the stick, they better get down and bow to the Chief."