Meaning
In New Orleans, the second line is the group of community participants who follow the official parade leaders or 'first line' and brass band, dancing and moving with the procession; the term also names the broader Black New Orleans parade tradition built around that participation.
How it is used
The National Park Service explains that African American mutual aid and benevolent societies used brass bands in processions and that community celebrants joining behind official members and the band became known as the second line. New Orleans Social Aid & Pleasure Club traditions continue that community-parade lineage today, while second lines also appear at weddings, funerals and festivals.
Examples
- “The brass band turned the corner and the second line followed behind.”
- “They had a second line after the wedding ceremony.”
Pronunciation
/ˈsɛkənd laɪn/ · SEK-und line
Tone and register
Celebratory and communal in many settings, but meaning depends on event. A funeral second line, neighborhood Social Aid & Pleasure Club parade and wedding procession share vocabulary without being culturally interchangeable.
Visitor guidance
Do not reduce second line to a generic tourist dance or use African American community history as decorative atmosphere. When discussing traditional Sunday second lines, recognize the Social Aid & Pleasure Club roots and follow current route, safety and participation guidance.
Cultural context
Second-line tradition sits at the intersection of Black mutual aid, brass-band music, neighborhood organization, mourning, celebration and public street culture. The National Park Service describes community participation behind society members and contracted bands as part of the conditions that nourished New Orleans jazz.
Places represented
Open the reviewed place guide for each regional sense carried by this canonical entry.