https://blackgirlnerds.com/sxsw-2024-review-joys-and-struggles-of-a-zulu-man-in-a-king-like-me/

New Orleans is an excellent spot that visitors flock to for the music scene, the food, the traditions, and, of course, a ghost story or two. It’s a place full of history, community, and culture. A King Like Me explores a fraction of that history and culture through one of its prominent communities, the Zulu Krewe; a community that, amidst tragedy, is full of joy and laughter, finding the good when they can.

A King Like Me had its world premiere at the Zach Theatre at SXSW this year. The takeaway: During the bad times, find a way to let the good times roll.

Directed by Matthew O. Henderson, A King Like Me follows the Zulu Krewe through joy and loss from Hurricane Katrina, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the aftermath of both. The documentary dives into the fascinating origins of the Zulu Club, highlighting how Black people and Black culture have shaped New Orleans, taking the negatives and turning them into something positive.

One example is the Zulus wearing Black face as Black people. This has been a controversial technique used to take back and mock racism — like using the N-word. We can use it, but you can’t. Zulu traces its origins to 1909, when the original founders paraded as a marching club. Between 1912 and 1914, the group adopted an African theme for their costumes and became known as the Zulus. 

A King Like Me highlights the people: the way they speak, the way they commune, and the way they eat. This story is told honestly through the lens of the New Orleanians. The film does a great job of weaving history with the present. Learning that a group of Black men came together and created their own piece of the Mardi Gras during a time when the KKK was on the rise and holding their own during the release of Birth of a Nation exemplifies the strength and determination these men had to carve a place in this world. It’s a determination that lives on to this day.

The film does an incredible job highlighting this group and showing why the community respects and appreciates them so much. The Zulu Krewe is an astonishing group. They come together as part of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. They aren’t just performers at Mardi Gras, with faces painted, throwing coconuts at the crowds; they are a Black men’s club that connects with each other and gives back to their community. When you’re in the club, your economic status is erased. You can find commonalities and relate to your brothers regardless of how much money you make or your job title. 

During Hurricane Katrina, the Zulu club didn’t know if it would reopen its doors again. The clubhouse was underwater. Damage was done inside and out. The men didn’t have a familiar place to go, but their allegiance to each other and their community helped them persevere. In the middle of a natural disaster, the Zulu club held their parade, bringing a little bit of joy during a very dark time.

The people of New Orleans have always found a way to find a space to enjoy themselves. A good example is the Jazz funerals held when someone dies. It’s a celebration of life and a way to share your grief with others. The potent combination of music and Black communities coming together makes things a little more digestible. 

The pandemic dealt a forceful blow through the Zulu Krewe. A group of over 800 men, almost all African American, lost sixteen members out of over seventy who contracted the COVID-19 virus. Louisiana had a horrific time with the pandemic, with New Orleans coming out with the worst of it. The impact the pandemic had on the Black community highlighted inequities in the healthcare system and for people of color. The communities that make New Orleans what it is are the communities that need the most help from our economic systems.

In the film, a man named Terrence Rice works to represent the Black experience. His powerful statement and emotions hit the story home. He talks about the American Dream and the struggles Blacks in America face. He talks about how hard it is not to see yourself in a negative way when every time you’re portrayed, it’s under a negative lens. He speaks about how we do all the right things, trying to be loved and accepted by people who will never love or accept us.

Terrence states that it’s a hard pill to swallow. “You go to school and do everything you’re supposed to do to get the American dream, and a mother f’er steps on you every day of your life. It’s hard when you’re trying to do everything right.”

But how do we get through it? A King Like Me gets it right: with community.