In the Fall of 2000, a group of African Americans came together to discuss how minorities could become more involved in the celebration of Mardi Gras in the spirit of the African American culture in the Shreveport area. The group formed the Krewe of Harambee, the first African American Krewe in Shreveport, Louisiana .

MARDI GRAS is French for "Fat Tuesday", which is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The term Mardi Gras is commonly used to describe the season of Carnival. The Carnival season always begins on the Twelfth Night -- twelve nights after Christmas.