Why Zulus From South Africa Are Blasting Members of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club In New Orleans, Louisiana For Their Depiction Of Zulus In The Mardi Gras Parade

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents some history about the one hundred year plus tradition of the Zulu club in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA) of using blackface in their Mardi Gras parade depiction of Zulus from South Africa.

This pancocojams post also documents selected comments from a discussion about this subject from a vlog on the "Lady Boule" YouTube channel.

This is just one of multiple Black American focused YouTube channels that are covering this topic at this time. My selection of this discussion thread instead of any other one was somewhat random.  

Read my comment in this pancocojams post's discussion thread about this YouTube channel.  

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural and historical purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/02/blackface-tradition-of-mardi-gras-zulu_22.html for the closely related 2012 pancocojams post entitled "The Blackface Tradition Of The Mardi Gras Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club".

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OVERVIEW ABOUT THE 2025 ONLINE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE NEW ORLEANS ZULU CLUB'S DEPICTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ZULU ETHNIC GROUP DURING THEIR PARADE

ONLINE SOURCE #1
from Google AI April 18, 2025 response to my request for "information about Zulus in the nation of South Africa’s controversy in 2025 regarding the New Orleans (USA) Zulu parade during Mardi Gras."

"In 2025, the Zulu parade controversy likely arose due to the Zulu Society's continued practice of using African-inspired costumes and themes during New Orleans Mardi Gras, which has been a source of cultural appropriation concerns. While the Zulu Society traces its origins to 1909 and adopted an African theme between 1912 and 1914, recent concerns have been raised about the appropriation of Zulu culture and the potential for the parade to perpetuate stereotypes.

Here's why the controversy might be emerging in 2025:

Growing Awareness of Cultural Appropriation:

There's a growing awareness of the harmful effects of cultural appropriation, which has led to increased scrutiny of the Zulu parade's practices.

Diverse Perspectives:

The Zulu Society has a long history, and its traditions are now being viewed through a more diverse and inclusive lens, leading to questions about the impact of the parade on the Zulu people and their cultural heritage.

Call for Change:

Some individuals and groups may be calling for the Zulu Society to make changes to its costumes, themes, and practices to be more respectful of the culture it draws inspiration from.

It's important to note that the Zulu Society itself has a history of engagement with the community and the local Zulu people, and there are diverse perspectives on the issue. The specific timing of the controversy in 2025 likely depends on the timing of specific incidents or discussions that draw attention to the concerns."

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ONLINE SOURCE #2
https://dfa.co.za/lifestyle/dfa-2025-04-08-south-africans-slam-offensive-zulu-parade-in-new-orleans/ "South Africans slam 'offensive' Zulu parade in New Orleans" published by Xolile Mtembu, April 8, 2025

"ETHNICITY and culture are an integral part of a people's identity - from traditional clothing to languages, many ethnic groups take pride in their history and how they are portrayed in the wider world.

In a controversial showcase, a 'Zulu' parade that takes place during the Mardi Gras in New Orleans in the US, has participants adorned in afro wigs, coconut coloured clothing, fabrics and with alleged black face reminiscent of olden day minstrel shows (comic skits depicting people specifically of African descent in a negative light to confirm racist beliefs).

South Africans were dismayed after they came across clips of the parade and accused the participants of being prejudiced and culturally insensitive.

[This article inserts the April 7, 2025 comment from x (twitter) and April 7, 2025 Tik Tok video clip that probably sparked the online discussion about this subject in 2025 among Zulus in South African and others.]

However, those defending it pointed out that the parade is over a century old.

"Satire is a key element of Mardi Gras and nowhere is that on keener display than in the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club formed in 1909. Zulu's founders chose their costumes to mock the demeaning portrayals of black people in early 20th century culture and the pretensions of the all-white parading organisations of the time," reported Nola.

Every year, the members wear 'black makeup', grass skirts, and distribute coconuts, following in the footsteps of the founders. In a video shared by one of participants, a woman shared how she gets ready, to the dismay of South Africans.

[This article inserts that Tik Tok video.]

However, South Africans were not willing to concede on this basis. "And now that a hundred years have passed what's so difficult with doing away with black face knowing it's offensive? And ignorance cannot be an excuse because you have all the information available to actually do things the right way if you care about cultural accuracy. Anything less is a mockery and there is no justifying it in 2025."
-snip-
This article continues with sample back and forth comments some of which include profanity (from supporters of Zulu parade in the USA toad the South African Zulus) and ends with this comment posted on x [twitter] from a South African woman:

mzansi fo sho 🇿🇦🐅

@PalesaMogorosi_

This is an opportunity for the Zulu Kingdom to sue the city of New Orleans and cash in from that joke of a parade!!!

1:13 PM · Apr 7, 2025"
-snip-
"Mzansi" is a referent for the nation of South Africa.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
Here's the description of the "Lady Boule" YouTube channel that is the source of the selected comments that are quoted in this pancocojam blog  

https://www.youtube.com/@ladyboule
"This channel explores African-American History and Culture. The emphasis is on outstanding achievements of African-Americans of the past and present."
-end of quote-

The Lady Boule channel is hosted by an [off-screen] older Black woman with that screen name.  The same photograph of "Lady Boule" is shown at the beginning of each vlog. No information about Lady Boule or how she chose this name , but given some comments that I read on random discussion threads of this channel, "Lady Boule" is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.(AKA)  which is the first historically Black Greek letter sorority.  Here's information about the meaning of the term "boule" for AKAs:
[from Google AI as of April 18, 2025]
 AI Overview
"In Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, the term "Boule" refers to the sorority's bi-annual international gathering. It's a major event where members from around the world come together to connect, participate in service projects, and celebrate their sisterhood. The Boule is also the sorority's governing body when the Boule is not in session"
-snip-
The population referent "FBA" is frequently used by commenters in the discussion thread for this particular YouTube vlog and for certain other YouTube vlogs. 

"FBA" (Foundational Black America) is a  new referent that is being used by a growing number of the population known as "African Americans"/"Black Americans" instead of those referents. "FBA" refers to people who can trace at least one of their ancestors to Black people who were enslaved in the United States. "FBA" was founded by Tariq Nasheed who splintered from the ADOS (American Descendants Of Slavery) movement.

The fact that (it appears to me that) a large number of commenters on "Lady Boule's YouTube channel consider themselves to be FBA or are supportive of FBA socio-cultural & political positions is ironic since FBAs are (also) disdainful of members of historically Black Greek tetter fraternities and sororities which they consider to be elitist and inherently harmful to FBAs.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/06/article-excerpts-about-population.html for the June 2024 pancocojams post entitled "Article Excerpts About The Population Referents "ADOS" (American Descendants Of Slaves) And "FBA" (Foundational Black Americans)". Also, click the tag below for other pancocojams posts about FBA. 

As an explanation of some of the comments in this post about the Zulus in the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade, FBA are very protective of their* identity and heritage and, generally speaking, people who consider themselves to be FBAs* are antagonistic toward Black immigrants (for instance Black people of Caribbean, or African descent post United States emancipation of slaves). FBAs disdainfully refer to Black immigrants to the United States as "tethers". 

*I use the pronoun "their" in this comment because I am not a FBA and I am critical of that group/ those that use that lineage referent.
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdU2oZh0URA "This is NOT Black American Culture" by Lady Boule, Apr 15, 2025

[vlog summary: "The Zulu Festival as part of Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans is not part of the wider Black American culture. It is a culture within the Black American community in New Orleans, Louisiana. South African Zulus have expressed that they see this festival as disrespectful to their tribe. This should be respected and addressed."

1 @Deidre-iz3fu, April 16, 2025
"I live in New Orleans. This parade has been going on forever. Even Louis Armstrong was a Zulu King. No amount of criticism  will stop this parade or the Zulu Ball. There are simply too many well-connected people in New Orleans who won't care about who is offended. Sorry."

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2. @ladyboule,April 16, 2025
"I understand. I'm not familiar with the culture. My problem is that all Black Americans are being dragged into this when it only applies to a few."

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3. @darioussmith3450, April 16, 2025
"@ladyboule  see they had over  100 years to complain why now in 2025? We didn’t even hear this last year. Also my understanding that the Zulu parade are held by blacks not whites."

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4. @maryh9569,April 16, 2025
"Lady Boula , I live in New Orleans, I'm a Older Black Woman, In the old days, Zulu Parades Couldn't Parade on Canal Street or St Charles, No other culture saw Zulu but Black Neighborhoods like Magnolia Street where I lived as a Child,  The Traditional thing in New Orleans, It's Against the Law in New Orleans to ride on a Carnival Float without a Mask, It wasn't Black face , But a Mask , Black was ignorant to. African but they knew only about Zulu,  You can blame those old white people Tarzan movies for the  , That's how they showed The Africans in.those Days, Now today, Zulu isn't what it used to be, White New Orleans has control of all the money Zulu is making,  But. , I see , I guess the Zulu People are more worried about a Carnival Parade than the White People in South Africa taking their land and Diamonds, Making them Third Class Citizens in their own Country,   This is African Problem , Tribal against each other,"

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5. @sleepyccs, April 16, 2025
"As someone from New Orleans...we don't care what South Africans think. Carnivals in the Caribbean do the same thing and no one is demanding they stop. Look up the Carriacou carnival devils called "Jab Jab".

In 2006 actual Zulus came to New Orleans and rode in the parade."

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6. @KathrynLabat, April 16, 2025
"Why haven't they complained prior to 2025? Is it because how  this administration is handling immigration? The Zulu Social Aid Club is more than a parade. It consists of men who come from all aspects of society who help and give back to their community. If you don't like it, don't come. New Orleanians love this club. Only men are members and I cannot become a member of course but I love it.🎉"

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7. @Dee_nyce, April 16, 2025
"In Louisiana, this is the culture. Its a tribute to ZULU 🎉"

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8. @damongrayson9287,April 16, 2025
"That 💩 a tribute to stepping fetch it and JJ Evan’s dynamite 🧨 😂 that’s bout it. They clearly see it as disrespect so if the Zulu nation doesn’t see it as a tribute it’s not. 💩 not flattering at all"

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9. @ABihStayWinN, April 16, 2025
"@damongrayson9287 you don't know the culture"

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10. @BigHalf-Dead,April 16, 2025
"It's a New Orleans thing we don't care what anyone says about our way of life down heah we're going to do us and the world can do them we're going to be alright"

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11. @oddnegrozofficial3363,April 16, 2025
"People get their panties in a bunch so easily clearly this is a new Orleans thing most Black Americans had no idea it existed that's a them issue it doesn't have to involve us, moving on.   Next!"

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12. @elvdell5582, April 16, 2025
"It is CRAZY that so many of us have never heard of this.  I hadn't heard of it until this video.  WHY in the heck would we have ANYONE dress up in black face.  Now I want to make two points.  

1.  To the South African's, this is what it feels like when someone appropriates your culture.  I totally agree with the first woman, however.  People do this to us all the time, but we need to be the better people and not tell them it isn't offensive after they've told us it is. (but still, will we ever get that same respect in return?)

2.  I truly wonder if a bunch of clear Europeans or clear Americans for that matter were to do this... I wonder if any of them would say anything. They seem to find a lot of heat when black American's do something, but when the folks do something, that heat dies down quickly.  (I'm just saying)."

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13. @workarea9832, April 16, 2025
"The Zulu Club is in need of a fresh identity. It's time for a new name and a revamped aesthetic. This transformation should have happened a long time ago."

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14. @ladyboule,April 16, 2025
"I agree."

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15. @sleepyccs, April 16, 2025
"@ladyboule  Nope. They will never change."

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16. @Joyful_Smiles, April 16, 2025
"As far as I know its a way to pay homage to the Zulus in South Africa because the Zulus are heroes who confronted colonizers and won.

The Zulus accomplished a great deal in South Africa and their leader Shaka Zulu is greatly revered in Black American culture. The Zulus are even honored in HBCUs."

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17. @pinksky7203, April 16, 2025
"I respectfully disagree, this is black American culture. It is a niche within overall foundational black American culture. I am not for NO so I do not feel qualified to speak on their intent or reasoning but this is a real cultural tradition for them. South Africans raising an issue 115 years after the fact or assuming something is about them is perhaps a reach. People all throughout the diaspora unapologetically utilize, imitate & captitaise from black American culture every single day. Relax, I watch people throughout the diaspora wear our culture like a fad daily. Build entire identities and businesses off of our culture...I do not believe black folks in NO were thinking about South Africans when they came up with these parades etc lol"

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18. @DeborahMcIntosh-i1k, April 16, 2025
"This is very old traditional and a beautiful AFRICAN AMERICAN culture celebration in New Orleans. We in the south have lived this for many years. I love it. Some people just want to make an issue out of a non issue. Leave them alone.  Many black  American slaves are descendants of the original Zulus in Africa. They created this when they got to America. They mingled their African culture with their American experience once they reached this soil; just like they created the blues, jazz, spiritual and other aspects of the black culture.  The Zulus is a social club in New Orleans and represent a total rejection of white king and queen celebration mimicking European culture. Zulu’s lifted up African culture. Many of the dances here were in Africa; we innovated like we do. Those blacks in South Africans can lick their feelings and move on from this! Shut up!!!

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19. @noybmyob9663,April 16, 2025
"I do NOT identify with nor take the names of another people or cultures, Africans included.  Proud and profound FBA all the way!!"

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20. @JW19268, April 16, 2025
"New Orleans has a unique culture that only exists there.  Maybe it's time for a new name."

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21. @NeUrDah01-r9x, April 16, 2025
"No, maybe it's time for Africans and the Black Diaspora to mind their own business."

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22. @AishaKarefa, April 16, 2025
"Lady Boule, New Orleans has a very unique culture with many intersections with reagrd to race and culture. New Orelans has ties to Span, France, Haiti and the continent of Africa. I think people are missing the point. Like the sister said it's a tribute to the Zulu because they are known warriors. Black folks in New Orleans have a Black Indian culture as well where they dress up in full Indian regalia. This is unique to New Orelans because there is so much mixture. Most times when Black folks don African garb and culture it is a tribite. This is the nature of this to me but just ask folks from New Orleans. Check out the documentary on the Cane River Creoles. They have their own culture. New Oreleans is a melange of African, Natiive American, French, Spanish, Haitian and European culture. So what happens to the Hip Hop group The Zulu Nation started by Afrika Bambatta which has been in existence since the early 80s? I personally don't think it's done to mock the Zulus but to emulate them. That's my two cents.

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23. @vanessawalker4796, April 16, 2025
"I love the Zulu's and their parade. I had the opportunity to see them for the 1st time this year.😊"

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24. @ZoraDelaney, April 16, 2025
"Personally, I think the club should be renamed and they should highlight the best of Foundational Black American history and culture."

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25. @crystalsplace7163, April 16, 2025
"They has 115 years to say something."

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26. @nebulanigrimleonis3883, April 16, 2025
"They saying it now. Why defend this? Just stop"

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27. @Misslilac-j3i, April 16, 2025
"Still doesn't make it OK. It's not your place or your culture. They're allowed to have their feelings known. 😔 SMH."

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28. @jacquelinephillips1331, April 16, 2025
"Because of social media now they are aware of it. Sometimes we have to stand down and take a different approach."

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29. @damongrayson9287, April 16, 2025
"@nebulanigrimleonis3883  why you speaking on it your not black American 🇺🇸 maybe a Caribbean that ran to America"

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30. @theshineprjct, April 16, 2025
"The black face part of it was alarming…..it’s shocking when white people do it BUT our melanated people……? Wow!"

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31. @vanessawalker4796, April 16, 2025
"This parade happens one time a year and I personally don't have a problem with it. There are much bigger fish to fry."

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32. @firedragon2502, April 16, 2025
"The Zulu parade at the Mardi Gras festival in Louisiana have been going on for over 100 years. Before this back and forth with Black Americans/FBA vs Black immigrants came about, most South African Zulus didn't really care about what Black Americans was doing. What changed🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔????? Why the Zulus of South Africa, all of a sudden, became hostile to Black Americans celebrating the Zulu culture after 100 years🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔!!!!!????? Granted, most Black Americans don't even know the culture. I myself didn't really know they had a Zulu parade. I doubt they where this hostile before. It's nothing wrong with some Black Americans copying Zulu culture. After all, you can't count how many times Africans (including the Zulus) copy Black Americans. Do house, techno, rap  hip hop, jazz, and other genres from Black Americans ring a bell🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔????? South Africans, and Africans in general got many musical genres from Black Americans. Most South Africans were proud they got the culture from Black Americans, so it really absurd to be throwing a fake, ridiculous fit now. Like I said time and time again, most Black Americans don't know nothing about Africa because they don't care to know nothing about Africa. Zulu culture is no exception. So as I said before, cut this sh*t out👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼!!!!! FBA all the way, everyday🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻!!!!! Akin🔥."

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33. @nqobilendlovu5190, April 16, 2025
"You are not celebrating Zulu culture you're making a mockery out of it, now do you get it?"

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34. @firedragon2502, April 16, 2025
"@nqobilendlovu5190  I don't celebrate Zulu culture because I'm not interested in Zulu culture!!!!!"

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35. @Carismatic811, April 16, 2025
"My first time hearing of this. I hope peace is reach in this. We need to not fight each other. But yeah if it’s offensive they should change stuff and make it right.

On the behalf of my brother n sisters in the states

sorry to my ZULU tribe families.

Thanks for the awareness"

**
36. @denise8881m, April 16, 2025
"I totally agree with you.  I'm 74 years old and I've never heard of this parade.  It wasn't my culture.  My people were from Texas and we did not celebrate this tradition.  I want to know what the parade is supposed to be celebrating.  What event in history?  I grew up in Washington, D.C. and we had the Redskins team.  When I lived in California in the 1990s that's when I first heard the anger about the name Redskins from a Native American on the radio who cursed the team's name.  With the winning football season we just had a lot of white fans wanted to go back to the old name from the new name Commanders but thankfully the team owner nixed that idea in the bud because white people kept claiming they knew Native Americans who liked the name Redskins and that Indians even gave the team the name which is most likely a lie.  I'm with you and the two people on the video.  My mouth dropped open in horror when I saw that blackface.  The name needs to be changed immediately.  Respect the Zulu people.  That parade looks 100 years old alright.  That's a shame from old Jim Crow times.  It's disrespectful to Africans and reminds me of the Little Black Sambo times of my childhood.  It's totally out of date tradition or not.  Times need to change and some traditions need to be done with.  That's why they kept the slaves uneducated.  White people knew it was wrong but encouraged them to do it anyway.  Let it go."

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37. @adreenalynharris5723, April 16, 2025
"Louisiana resident here and I always thought actual Zulu people started the parade as a kid but when I got older thought it was cringe so I just didn’t like it anymore after I got to be an adult"

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38. @LiquidSonshine, April 16, 2025
"South Africans are very disingenuous in their faux outrage. In Cape Town SA every January 2nd, there's "the Minstel parade" which is the exact same thing as the Zulu parade and pre dates it almost 100 years! They tried it.

We're offended by Twyla, Burna Boy, Cynthia Everio, and their cosplaying. But no one listens to that. This is why delineating is important, they don't want the smoke. We'll stop the Zulu parade, when they stop the minstrel parade. We both do have bigger issues, but we didn't invite Africans to this, Otis. Given the current climate in the US, it would be better for them to stay home. Work on the issues of SA, we have alot to sort here, without their whining!"

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39. @solomonphasha6692, April 16, 2025
"That's not Zulus doing it it's coloured people"
-snip-
This commenter is clarifying that in the nation of South Africa the "Zulu ethnic group" is distinct from the "Coloured ethnic group".

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40. @nqobilendlovu5190, April 16, 2025
"Nobody said stop the parade just drop the name , thank you."

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41. @pennydink72, April 16, 2025
"Thank you for bringing the hot topics Lady Boule. Some feelings are hurt in these comments boy I tell you, lol. I've never been to Mardi Gras, but I know that is rich history of our people here in America. I'm not feeling the black face but I think it's mocking the mockers and they made a whole thing out of it. That's one way of turning lemons into lemonade. I think this is a big nothing burger honestly and that small group of South Africans should just chill."

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42. @mikamwambazi3807, April 16, 2025
"Zulu nation is not a small group. The fact that your parade teaches you that is precisely the point, disinformation. 😊"

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43. @kathym8453, April 16, 2025
"Excuse me, this is an expression of Black American culture, at least the Black Americans of New Orleans.  Black Americans DO have different cultures/institutions in various parts of the USA.  I really don't know why this topic is coming up now.  Who made this an issue?"

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44. @rbailey3309, April 16, 2025
"I agree. You cannot say that it is a tribute if it insults the people whom you tributing."

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45. @connie4872, April 16, 2025
"Why is this an issue now after all this time? I think the people in New Orleans should keep doing what they are doing."

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46.@nqobilendlovu5190, April 16, 2025
"Social media love , we didn't know about it before."

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47. @Luntu88, April 16, 2025
"We found out now, simply do it without blackface. Do it without Blackface. We have a problem with blackface only."

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48. @randyb5579,April 16, 2025
"As a Louisiana native who lived in NOLA for a decade, Zulu is one of the Big 5 parades - Rex, Endymion, Bacchus, Orpheus, and is connected with high society.  It holds formal cotillons and a debutante ball, in addition to being a volunteer organization.  This offends the South Africans, and not the fact that ten percent of an allegedly vanquished oppressive racist regime still controls ninety-nine percent of their country's wealth, of which the actual Zulus are part of the majority population.  Okay, I guess, if this is their flex."
-snip-
I think "Okay...if this is their flex" means "if this is what they want to focus/spend their energy on instead of other more important things."  

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49. @hosebewhening6111, April 16, 2025
"NOLA checking in...specifically Algiers. No one cares about the South Africans feelings it's not about them.

When they sold our Ancestors we stopped caring."
-snip-
In the context of this comment, "Algiers" is a neighborhood in NOLA (New Orleans Louisiana)

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50. @whitewitch2511, April 16, 2025
"We are not related to West Africans as black people of South Africa😂"
-snip-
In the context of this comment, "We" means "Black people of South Africa".

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51. @nqobilendlovu5190, April 17, 2025
"I don't feel anything about you , I am Zulu and am insulted by your use of my identity."

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52. @nqobilendlovu5190, April 17, 2025
"Nobody said stop the parade just drop the name , thank you."

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53. @sherwoodla6535, April 17, 2025
"As an FBA, it’s needs to stop.  Tradition is no excuse, no more than Jim Crowe was a “tradition”. "

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54. @fefep4035, April 17, 2025
"Why are they still using black face? Especially after the 1960s civil rights  and black pride movements? If they embraced what true Zulus are, then that might be acceptable, but no one with any self-respect should tolerate black face."

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55. @user-st6nt4ou6f, April 17, 2025
"AFRICANS AM are " NOT LIKE US,. As a civil rights activist in the 60s and 70s , our organizations supported the South Africans in their fight against Apartheid. So now they opebed their eyes and focused  on somwthing THAT IS NOT THEIR F*** BUSINESS. I attended Mardi Gras many times in the 80s. Study the history and realize that some things from the past still exist. The Black community won the right to parade after a hard fought battle and theyre proud of utt. South Africans,STAY IN YOUR LANE. THIS AIN'T YOUR BIZ. 😠😠 Says a 92%er. Learn the history"
-snip-
This is the way this comment is written in that discussion thread.

"92%er" is a referent that is used by African Americans to refer to the reported percentage of African American woman who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 for President of the United States. (It is also reported that 80% of African American men voted for Kamala Harris.) 

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56. @MsJay-cr1id, April 17, 2025
"If it's happening in New Orleans, it's a Black American thing. We ain't changing nothing. NOLA DO NOLA."

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57. @Bobby-h5m4u, April 17, 2025
"Africans need to mind their own business,they will never understand US.....Trump needs to get all these Africans out of here"

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58. @tw69hands2, April 17, 2025
"That’s a minstrel show. Black face isn’t anybody’s culture. We don’t dress up as leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day, calling it culture. Blackface is not culture. It’s an insult."

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59.  @copperdee3073, April 17, 2025
"That is not our culture! Practice American Indigenous culture and stop trying to be African and other strange foreign cultures."

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60. @carah4958, April 17, 2025
"Many black Americans have no Idea about New Orleans Black culture which is different. We also have New Orleans Indians. Should we remove them as well? Before you self righteous non—New Orleans folks start weighting with your google search mentality, let’s have a conversation with real historians and understand the history, where and how the name came about. Why don’t you talk to the Zulu Social Pleasure club. Let people from New Orleans figure this out instead of Johnny come lately negroes who k ow nothing  about New Orleans Black culture besides the Essence Fest.  Maybe this could be a great moment for realignment with the Zulu  organization and the tribe. It could be a great moment to celebrate both cultures. I don’t even know if they are still doing the black face, if they are, I hope they stop. There is some history behind that. You know we are of African heritage. Our food, instruments and music came from our roots. We took our roots and formed something beautiful, Gumbo, the country music instruments, and many other traditions. Have you heard of the flame throwers in the parades? The Magnolia Indians? Do you know about Second lines or buck dancing. It’s kind of audacious to be so uninformed of our New Orleans culture and weighing in without doing research and actually speaking to historians. I completely understand the Zulu nation’s perspective, but there are many names taken from Africa languages and used for businesses, organizations  and  Events, as well as African themed art. Just like our black culture has no boundaries. We should have a conversation and not overreact. The Zulu Organization should make a statement and also modernize. "

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61. @LeoBlight, April 17, 2025
"Don’t make sense at all to dress up like that especially in black face. Black face is well known to be extremely racist towards black people. Its literally pushing the narrative that it’s ok to dress up in black face  because other black peoples are doing it. It’s the same as trying to say the N word is ok as long as you don’t say it with the ER. When people are so use to being oppressed and disrespected they find a way to take away the sting of their current situation. This parade should be stopped"

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62. @queenlj12jax97,April 17, 2025
"I suspect the New Orleans Zulu parade was a construct of the mentality of early 20th century America. During that era America's biggest and most popular Black entertainers like Bert Williams and Ernest Hogan wore blackface as did many white entertainers. As offensive as blackface is, I'm surprised the people participating in the parade in the 21st century still adhere to it. It should be abolished and erased from the consciousness of every Black person, just like the N-word!"

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63. @barrychilds109, April 17, 2025
"I can respect the African Descended Diaspora Pheno Typed Family of People in South Africa point of view"

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64. @politicallil7060, April 17, 2025
"ZULU parade is a huge part of the Mardi Gras. I still have my coconut...This is nothing but psychological warfare designed to keep us bickering, fighting, and beefing over anything."

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65. @w1nda1monn87, April 17, 2025
"As someone who was born and raised in New Orleans, I feel comfortable speaking on behalf of most of my fellow New Orleaneans by saying that the Zulu Parade was never meant to be disrespectful to the Zulu Tribe in South Africa and hell would freeze over before the name is changed because they are "offended."

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66. @SiphosihleSithole, April 17, 2025
"lol I’m black South Africa a real Zulu and I think  black American see themselves superior from us, how can you just call your parade Zulu parade like the Zulus are not alive to see that you are pathetic our culture , you did that parade for 100 years Zulu been alive for more 1000 years and still alive. We are proud and territorial people and we don’t take shit from no one. If you gonna use our name and try to copy our culture at least do it correct. And the black face mmmmm you do what white america is doing to you. You paint black face to imitate us coz you think we are blacker than you hypocrites"

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67. @brianupendo3725, April 17, 2025
"It's 2025 not 1925 and the blackface part of the parade should have been taken out.  Its disrespectful to all black people actually not just the Zulu. But big up to them for pointing it out as they should since it's their name being represented."

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68. @smithkaren1387, April 17, 2025
"Google kaapse klopse!!! South Africans are doing the same thing while saying FBAs are offending them!!😂 Mardi Gras 4 Ever!💜💛💚"

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69. @Dunoonking
"Ok let south africans have a parade in black face and call themselves FBA, you fba wouldn't stand for it. You fba are hypocrites."

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70. @lungamadoda6992, April 18, 2025
"I’m South African and Zulu Speaking for that matter and I don’t really mind the parade however it’s the black face that confuses me, what’s up with that?"

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