‘Take it off Zulu,’ protesters tell krewe

Take ‘Em Down Nola, the group that pushed for the removal of Confederate-era monuments from public spaces in New Orleans, led a protest last week that demanded that the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club do away with its long tradition of using black face paint and donning unkempt afro wigs.

Members from Take ‘Em Down NOLA stood across from the Zulu clubhouse on N. Broad Street holding signs protesting the group’s use of black makeup during Mardi Gras, saying the practice is akin to blackface.

“We will fight tooth and nail to the last drop of our blood to take down all the symbols of white supremacy,” said Take ‘Em Down NOLA coordinator Malcolm Suber.

A parading member of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club on Mardi Gras Day, 2018.

Zulu members eyeing the protesters answered by painting their faces in their traditional masking.

In a release sent Feb. 13, a Zulu spokesperson outlined how the Zulu parade costume “has always been about celebrating African and African-American culture. But Suber said while the practice and costume may be
rooted in tradition, times have changed.

“Certainly, the national Black community is opposed to people wearing black face…We’re asking Zulu to apologize to the Black community for its perpetuating these racist images. We’re asking Zulu members to rise up, tell them you don’t want to wear black faces here,” Suber said.

New Orleans City Councilman Jay Banks is the chairman of the Zulu board of directors. He said while Take Em Down NOLA has a right to protest, he doesn’t agree with them.

“Black face is a demeaning act. It is not only the makeup, it’s the clothes, the buffoonery, it’s the stupidity, it’s the entire devaluation of a race that we have never participated in, so it’s much different what they do and what we do,” the former Zulu king said.

Banks said Zulu’s black Mardi Gras makeup is as deep-rooted a tradition as their work in building up their community, members and citizens, and he said they would never do anything to tear that work down.

“At the end of the day, because someone wants to use something in a negative way doesn’t change the way I use it,” said Banks. “It’s not the same thing. Black makeup is not black face.”

Several Carnival insiders told FOX 8 News last week that they feel only the Krewe of Zulu can decide how to address this situation, and whether they will continue using the black makeup.

“When you think about it, Zulu members are our sons, fathers, uncles, nephews and cousins,” resident Karen Smith told The Louisiana Weekly. “We want them to continue to shine on Mardi Gras Day but not at the expense of our dignity.”

“Like a lot of people out here, I grew up loving and supporting Zulu,” Cheronne Walker told The Louisiana Weekly. “I just hope they end this tradition before all that love turns into hate.”

This article originally published in the February 25, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.