At this year’s Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans, attendees lined up around the boulevard. Michelle Obama, the former first lady, discussed the politics of perception, the actress Keke Palmer taught a Pilates class and Cardi B, Monica and Babyface all performed.
The weekend was a boon for ticket holders, who had arrived from Texas, Maryland, Alabama and Pennsylvania looking for what Essence promises: a singular cultural landscape and cameos from beloved celebrities.
The festival, which is usually held over the Fourth of July weekend in New Orleans, coincided with the 250th anniversary of the country’s formation. While nationwide many Americans commemorated Independence Day, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and at the Superdome in downtown New Orleans, some Black women honored it in their own way.
“As a Black woman, my celebration of my existence in this country looks a bit different,” said Melissa C. Potter, 42, who said she really liked the section devoted to books and author talks. “There would be no other place I would prefer to be to celebrate being Black in America.”
To commemorate the festival, Essence magazine printed a special cover featuring Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. And while the event generally brings a boost to the city’s economy during its summer slump, Helena Moreno, the mayor of New Orleans, said that the festival was also about community and tradition. Throughout the city, locals were quick to say “Enjoy Essence fest” when they came across new faces.
“Essence is here in New Orleans to celebrate Black women and celebrate culture, but it’s also about bringing people together,” Moreno said.
Earlier in the night at the Superdome, Obama held a talk moderated by Palmer. During the one-hour conversation, which will be released as an episode of Obama’s podcast later this month, Obama discussed fashion, hair and the politics of being perceived. She covers these subjects in her 2025 photo book, “The Look,” which she rereleased for the festival with a special dedication for Essence attendees.
“I want us all, as Black women, to own our spaces,” Obama said to Palmer onstage at the Superdome. “And sometimes you get to do that and sometimes you don’t,” she said.
The Essence Festival does provide a sense of ownership. It is a space that Black women flock to because of the sense of support they are provided. For some, their attendance has nothing to do with the country’s anniversary and everything to do with enjoying themselves.
“I could be anywhere,” said Lisa Duckworth, 64, who retired as a sergeant first class from the Army in 2013. “I could do anything, but I have served in the military. I have given to my country. It’s time for me to enjoy my life and celebrate me.”
For others, the events provide a distinct chance to be around people with similar interests.
“I think it’s just really important to stay in community,” said Layah Cavett, 18. “Being around all the people who look like me is really fascinating to see, and I just love it.”
Caesar Taylor, 39, a former Marine, said the diversity in events, people and culture drew her to New Orleans every year.
“It gives me a sense of Black freedom,” Taylor said. “When we come here, we show up, we show out, we have a good time.”
Throughout the weekend, crisscrossing the sprawling 30,000 square feet of the convention center felt like navigating a wonderland of American Blackness, insulated from national politics and pressures.
Under the soaring ceilings, “Candy” by Cameo, the quintessential cookout song, blared through several speakers, and crowds assembled to dance the electric slide.
When the dance track “Boots on the Ground” by 803 Fresh came over the speakers, attendees pulled out the customary props — folding fans. For “Wobble” by V.I.C., members of the crowd broke into a line style dance.
The vibe was unity and joy.
“I just wanted to be around our people, have a good time,” Danielle Taylor, 43, who traveled from Philadelphia, said. “This is a staple in our culture, just being able to do this every year and knowing that it’s going to be here.”
The oasis was studded with booths sponsored by blue-chip American brands trying to reach Black female consumers at the festival, which has been held nearly every year since 1995.
“I like trying new products, I like different activations, workshops, the panels, the concerts, the parties — everything,” Priscilla Williams, 39, a Chicago native, said. “I feel liberated when I come here. You don’t have to be pretentious. You don’t have to put on airs.”
The rapper Cardi B, who gave a talk about turning a passion into profit, was there to promote Grow Good, her hair care brand.
“I want to encourage somebody, like, if you got something that you love and you’re passionate about and you know that you’re good about, I want them to know that you could do it, too, because I was not born privileged,” Cardi B said in an interview after her talk at the festival. “It’s like, if I could do it, trust me, girl, you could do it, too.”
The rapper, who performed later that evening, said she was nervous about her first show at the Essence Festival.
“I’m just trying to put in my head it’s just another show,” she said, repeating it like a mantra. “Yesterday when I went to rehearsal, I kind of got overwhelmed because this is a very big venue. It’s going to be a lot of people.”