Michael E. Crutcher Jr.

Michael E. Crutcher Jr. (1969 - ) is an assistant professor in the Geography and African American Studies departments at the University of Kentucky. As a graduate student at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Michael became fascinated with both the historical and contemporary geographies of performance and resistance in New Orleans's Treme neighborhood. A stint as a Park Ranger at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park introduced him to traditional New Orleans jazz and the city's parading traditions. He also became familiar with many of the personalities in New Orleans and with Treme's cultural scene. For the past seven years he has kept his heart on the streets of Treme by masking skeleton with North Side Skull and Bone Gang on Mardi Gras day.