An Exception Made for Masks Only at Mardi Gras Photo: Barry Lewis (Getty Images) When Black folks were banned from celebrating the holiday, they started to wear masks to conceal their racial identity.

The makeup carries grave significance for the group as Brian Sims, a former Zulu king, explains: "Back in the 1900s, the rules are, you have to mask. Every organization wears a mask during Mardi Gras.

An Exception Made for Masks Only at Mardi Gras Photo: Getty Images Barry Lewis When Black folks were banned from celebrating the holiday, they started to wear masks to conceal their racial identity.

Mardi Gras is not only Catholic, it’s French, Creole, African-American, African and Native American. And there are layers to this ornate carnival that reveal a powerful history of Black joy ...

Welcome to Mardi Gras Unmasked, a multi-part series exploring the cultures beneath the culture of New Orleans and Mardi Gras, celebrating the artistic, musical, and culinary heritage of The Big ...

The Lafayette Mardi Gras Indians bring their brightly colored costumes to life with a painted wire mask, square mortarboard-style hat, vibrant feathers and embroidery.