Sudan Social and Pleasure Club

Social Aid clubs were originally founded in the 1800’s as benevolent societies that provided an early form of insurance for the African-American community in a time where they were unable to get it any other way. They hosted events, engaged in charitable work, and handled the cost of burials for those who couldn’t afford it on their own. There are roughly 70 clubs left, including The Sudan Social Aid & Pleasure Club, pictured below, which was founded in 1983.

Later, as more African-American families moved into the local middle and upper class, they expanded their role to include the “pleasure” element, including the now famous Second Line Parades. I was fortunate enough to be granted full access to document their 2014 second line, which was published as part of my project One of Many.