The new documentary 'A King Like Me' reveals that members of the Black group Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club decided to wear face makeup that resembled blackface in its early years because Black men were legally prohibited from wearing masks.
https://people.com/why-zulu-social-aid-and-pleasure-club-members-wear-b…


Zulu Social Club Wear Controversial Blackface Makeup for Mardi Gras Because Black Men Once Weren't Allowed to Wear Masks