Dorothy Mae Taylor By Amy Espinal

Presented by: Women’s Resource Center & NOLA4Women

Designed by: the Donnelley Center Dorothy Mae Taylor “We have no guarantee of the pursuit of happiness. Taylor achieved one of her greatest accomplishments We have no equal opportunity under the law. We in when she presented a bill to the have no guarantee of a decent place to live.” state of in 1991 in which she hoped to ban Dorothy Mae Taylor wrote these words in a letter discrimination and racism in Mardi Gras krewes and to Jimmy Carter, the President of the , parades. Private clubs that made up Mardi Gras krewes in 1979. She expressed her concerns to him about and organized parades were white and male-dominated. his disinterest in abiding by his campaign promises They excluded other races from taking part in one of ensuring basic human rights to all citizens of the of the most celebrated holidays in the city. Taylor United States. She criticizes his neglect of the held public hearings with some of the private club poor, specifically , and demands the members of Mardi Gras krewes, and they admitted President include them in his mission. that even in the forty years they participated in these Taylor, born in New Orleans in 1928, left a great clubs, they had never admitted a non-white member. legacy in the Big Easy. Taylor hoped to make the public Taylor ultimately ensured the passage of a non- aware of the disadvantages black communities faced in discriminatory ordinance in 1992, giving all people the United States as she did in the letter written to the right to take part in and celebrate Mardi Gras. President Carter. She was the first African-American Her accomplishments in office and for Mardi Gras woman elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives were a major shift in the history and politics of the and is remembered today as an activist, educator South, leading to positive change for people of color. and political leader. was also the first African As a leading lady of New Orleans, it was American woman to head a state department in Taylor’s goal to inspire a revolution for change in black Louisiana, the Urban and Community Affairs, and communities. Although she passed away in 2000, one of the first women elected to the City Council Taylor is still remembered throughout the city. To in New Orleans. Her successes also include advancing honor her legacy, many have spoken of creating a equity in education. Taylor convinced the Orleans statue for her along the main Mardi Gras route. Parish School Board to provide more funds to black Others have suggested replacing the statue that once and underprivileged schools to purchase supplies and stood of Robert E. Lee on Lee Circle to Dorothy resources for students. In addition, Taylor pushed the Mae Taylor. New Orleans Recreation Department to provide more resources for African Americans. She was able to make an immense amount of progress in the city from helping African Americans register to vote, to desegregating public spaces in New Orleans.