The New York Times published an in-depth piece on December 25 about the troubles faced by the Backstreet Cultural Museum following the death of founder Sylvester Francis in September 2020 and damage incurred by Hurricane Ida in August 2021. Francis’ daughter, Dominique Francis-Dilling, told the Times that a leaky ceiling and mold threatened to damage the Black cultural artifacts that her father had accrued for decades and that local volunteers had been assisting with removing imperiled items from the damaged building. The museum is located in the former Blandin Funeral Home at 1116 Henriette DeLille Street in Treme.

In spite of this public support and media attention, the Backstreet Cultural Museum still needs help.

The Times writes: “While a few larger cultural entities have offered to buy part of the collection from Ms. Francis-Dilling, Ms. Hamilton [Gia, New Orleans native and executive director of the neighboring New Orleans African American Museum] rejects what she calls a ‘colonizing’ tradition of museum collection, preferring to keep an independent vision of ‘whose collection it is and where it comes from.'”

The Backstreet Cultural Museum officially opened its doors in 1999. However, its origins can be traced back three decades to when Sylvester Francis paraded with the Gentlemen of Leisure Social Aid & Pleasure Club. A man photographing the parade wanted Francis to pay $35.00 for his own photograph. To avoid such costs in the future, Francis bought both a Super 8mm camera and a still camera and began documenting Carnival celebrations, second-line parades, and jazz funerals throughout New Orleans.

The paper also spoke to Victor Harris, Big Chief of the Spirit of FiYiYi, who explained, “This is where our culture is from. It belongs here. I want the world to see it. But the world needs to come here to see it.”

As reported, Harris’ peacock-blue, beaded and feathered suit became the first item in the Backstreet’s collection when Francis salvaged it after Mardi Gras 40 years ago. Harris mentioned that he had an entire show devoted to his artwork at the New Orleans Museum of Art but he does not feel it’s as much of an honor as being on display at Backstreet.  “If my suit was in the Smithsonian, it wouldn’t mean as much to me as being in the Backstreet,” he said. “That was our community headquarters.”

Francis-Dilling concluded that she just wanted to make her father proud.

Regrettably, it does look like the museum will need to house its displays at a new location. Currently a fundraiser is underway to assist with relocating the Backstreet’s collection. The items are currently being safeguarded in climate-controlled storage unit. Organizers are seeking a new location, hopefully in the Treme neighborhood. To donate, click here.