The recent shooting at a second line in St. Roch has shaken many in the community. It has others questioning if second lines themselves have something to do with it. Dominique Dilling, Director of the Backstreet Museum , which focuses on Second Line Culture, says this incident had nothing to do with second lines and more to do with ignorance surrounding what second lines are about. “The violence is not connected to the second lines. In fact, second lines stand for the opposite in the culture,” Dilling says. “In fact, back in the day, you joined these social clubs in part to help pay for burials of those in need and to help family members. The violence that’s taken place has to do with the people who attend these events with a complete lack of knowledge of what these events are supposed to represent,” Dilling goes on to explain.
In times of uncertainty, especially when the violence seems so flippant and random, it can be easy to lay the blame on the event where the violence took place. But, in a city like New Orleans, where you never know where the next crime might occur, it can be short-sighted to lay blame on the celebration itself. Dominique Dilling says second lines are little understood even in New Orleans where they originated, and that’s part of the issue. “Even in the city there’s a lack of knowledge and at Backstreet I try to encourage locals to come in and get to know some of the history before they hit the street and try to join one of these events. Some people just look at it as a free party or an open event, and it’s deeper than that,” Dilling illustrates. “These social aid and pleasure clubs shouldn’t be targeted for the things that are happening on the street with this violence. These guys are out there daily in the city raising funding, helping to pay for burial purposes for families who can’t afford it, and much more. For them to get a reputation for this being a violent event really isn’t fair”