Born From Exclusion: The Powerful History Of The Mardi Gras Indians

Source: Erika Goldring / Getty – Black Masking Indian Flag Boy Marwan Pleasant of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians is seen outside his grandfather’s house on Mardi Gras Day on Feb. 17, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Every year, the celebration of Mardi Gras reaches its peak on “Fat Tuesday,” the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. This year, the festivities fell on Feb. 17. While the parades, beads, and elaborate floats capture much of the public attention, there is another...