GALVESTON, Texas -- Mardi Gras season is a busy time for Megan Maberry, owner of Hurricane Headdress. When she is not working as a full-time art teacher, she designs one-of-a-kind headpieces.

Mardi Gras Indians are African Americans who dress in elaborate headdresses and costumes for the Carnival celebrations. The origins of the Mardi Gras Indians are contested. One theory is the Mardi ...