Many people may not know, but one of the most popular Black Carnival traditions of New Orleans started out of resistance.

Some Africans brought here during the trans-Atlantic slave trade were able to find safety with the Indigenous people of Louisiana. As a way to pay tribute, the tradition of Black Masking Indians was created. It was only later they would became known as "Mardi Gras Indians" because the tribes would utilize European holidays, like Fat Tuesday, to dress out and parade in the streets. Delayed but not deterred, various communities of eager paraders took to their respective neighborhoods and began celebrating on their own. These various communities would continue on to make up their own tribes of Black Masking Indians for decades on.

Featured in this video: Shaka Zulu, a New Orleans Black Masking Craftsman, Stilt Dancer, & Musician who was named a 2022 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow.

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