Misplaced Pages

The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club (founded 1916) is a fraternal organization in New Orleans, Louisiana which puts on the Zulu parade each year on Mardi Gras Day. Zulu is New Orleans' largest predominantly African American carnival organization known for its krewe members wearing grass skirts and its unique throw of hand-painted coconuts. The club is a regular feature of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

History

In 1908, John L. Metoyer and members of a New York mutual aid society called "The Tramps" attended a vaudevillian comedy show called There Never Was and Never Will Be a King Like Me. The musical comedy performed by the "Smart Set" at the Pythian Temple Theater on the corner of Gravier and Saratoga in New Orleans included a skit where the characters wore grass skirts and dressed in black makeup. Metoyer became inspired by the skit and reorganized his marching troupe from baggy-pant-wearing tramps to a new group called the "Zulus". In 1909, Metoyer and the first Zulu king, William Story, wore a lard-can crown and carried a banana stalk as a scepter. Six years later in 1915, the first decorated platform was constructed with dry goods boxes on a spring wagon. The King's float was decorated with tree moss and palmetto leaves.

In 1916, Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club became incorporated where the organization's bylaws were established as well as its social mission and dedication to benevolence and goodwill.

In 1933, the Lady Zulu Auxiliary was formed by the wives of Zulu members, and in 1948 Edwina Robertson became the first Queen of Zulu, making the club the first to feature a queen in a parade.

In the 1960s, membership dwindled as a result of social pressures from civil rights activists. The protesters advertised in the local black community's newspaper The Louisiana Weekly stating:

We, the Negroes of New Orleans, are in the midst of a fight for our rights and for a recognition of our human dignity which underlies those rights. Therefore, we resent and repudiate the Zulu Parade, in which Negroes are paid by white merchants to wander through the city drinking to excess, dressed as uncivilized savages and throwing cocoanuts like monkeys. This caricature does not represent Us. Rather, it represents a warped picture against us. Therefore, we petition all citizens of New Orleans to boycott the Zulu Parade. If we want respect from others, we must first demand it from ourselves.

According to the club, Zulu's use of black makeup was never a form of "blackface". Throughout the south, black Americans were prohibited from wearing masks, but black makeup was permitted. The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Inc. says that it has not and never will participate in the act of "blackface," as "blackface" is the derogatory, hateful representation of black people as buffoons and idiots. During the 1960s, the organization, with the support of the Mayor and chief-of-police, gave up black make up but continued the tradition of the parade, wearing grass skirts and keeping the identity of the king secret. Due to continued pressure, by 1965 there were only 15 Zulu members remaining. The induction of local civil rights leaders Ernest J. Wright and Morris F.X. Jeff Sr. as Zulu members eventually lifted tensions and membership started to increase. The krewe soon resumed their old traditions, including the black makeup.

Unlike the other "old-line" Carnival Krewes, Zulu never had a policy of racial discrimination. From its inception, any man, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion, had the opportunity to join the membership. In 1973, Roy E. "Glap" Glapion Jr., Zulu President from 1973 to 1988, started actively recruiting professionals, educators, and prominent businessmen and men from all racial and ethnic backgrounds to join Zulu's membership, making Zulu the first parading organization to actually parade racially integrated.

Zulu coconut

The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club is well known to parade-goers for throwing coconuts to the crowd. In the early 20th century, other parading organizations threw glass necklaces, often hand-made and expensive. The working men of Zulu could not afford similar throws, and decided to purchase coconuts from the French Market since they were unusual and relatively cheap. Painted and adorned coconuts became popular with the club starting in the late 1940s. In 1987, the organization was unable to renew its insurance coverage, and lawsuits stemming from coconut-related injuries forced a halt to the tradition. In 1988 Governor Edwin W. Edwards signed Louisiana State Bill #SB188, the "Coconut Bill", into law, removing liability from injuries resulting from coconuts and enabling the tradition to resume.

King of Zulu

Zulu is the only New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe that selects their king through an election voting process. Potential kings must campaign for the job, including throwing parties for other krewe members to solicit votes.

Kings of Zulu

Source:

• 1909 – William Story
• 1910 – William J. Crawford
• 1911 – Alex Washington
• 1912 – Peter Williams
• 1913 – James Bolton
• 1914 – Henry Harris
• 1915 – John White
• 1916 – John White
• 1917 – James Robertson
• 1918–1919 – WAR
• 1920 – Freddie Brown
• 1921 – James Robertson
• 1922 – Herbert Permillion
• 1923 – Joseph Kahoe
• 1924 – Adrian Hippolite
• 1925 – Baley Robertson
• 1926 – Joseph L. Smith
• 1927 – Arnold L. Moss
• 1928 – Henry Hicks
• 1929 – Wurry Watson
• 1930 – Paul Johnson
• 1931 – Allen Leon
• 1932 – Alonzo Butler
• 1933 – Allen Leon
• 1934 – Leopold LeBlanc
• 1935 – Baptiste Giles
• 1936 – Edmond Hewlett
• 1937 – Arthur Royal
• 1938 – Leopold LeBlanc
• 1939 – Allen James
• 1940 – Emmanuel Bernard
• 1941 – Alonzo Butler
• 1942–1945 – WAR
• 1946 – Clen Vandage
• 1947 – Joseph Warrington
• 1948 – James Smith
• 1949 – Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong
• 1950 – William Poole
• 1951 – Roland Brown
• 1959 – Melvin Green
• 1960 – Baptiste Giles
• 1961 – Henry Johnson
• 1962 – Melvin Green
• 1963 – William Poole
• 1964 – Edward Johnson
• 1965 – Milton Bienamee
• 1966 – Alfred "Al" Barnes
• 1967 – Milton Bienamee
• 1968 – William "Honey" Boykins
• 1969 – Elizah J. Peters
• 1970 – Milton Bienamee
• 1971 – Henry "Bo" Berry
• 1972 – Arthur "Sonny Boy" Carter
• 1973 – Steve "Bulldog Buddy" Johnson
• 1974 – Morris FX Jeff
• 1975 – Harold Doley
• 1976 – Dr. Lawler P. Daniels Jr.
• 1977 – A.J. "Chuck" Mercadel
• 1978 – Willie L. Papin
• 1979 – Joseph O. Misshore, Jr.
• 1980 – Elliot Boisdore
• 1981 – John Elliot Adams
• 1982 – Charles L. Givens
• 1983 – Jesse J. Balancier
• 1984 – Alfred H. Gordon
• 1985 – Eddie R. Carter
• 1986 – Louis Augustin
• 1987 – Fred Thomas
• 1988 – Arthur Vigne
• 1989 – Owens "OJ" Haynes
• 1990 – Keith E. Weatherspoon
• 1991 – Charles E. Hamilton, Jr.
• 1992 – James "Jim" Russell
• 1993 – Oscar Piper
• 1994 – David Belfield
• 1995 – Straughter Prophet
• 1996 – Louis R. Rainey, Jr.
• 1998 – Wallace Broussard
• 1999 – Dr. Myron Moorehead
• 2000 – Roy E. Glapion, Jr.
• 2001 – Melvin A. Armour
• 2002 – Louis "Tony" Williams
• 2003 – Gary A. Thornton
• 2004 – Gerard M. Johnson
• 2005 – Isaac "Ike" Wheeler
• 2006 – no elections due to Hurricane Katrina
• 2007 – Larry A. Hammond
• 2008 – Frank Boutte'
• 2009 – Tyrone Anthony Mathieu, Sr.
• 2010 – Jimmie L. Felder
• 2011 – Anthony "Tony" Barker, Sr.
• 2012 – Elroy Anthony James
• 2013 – Cedric George Givens
• 2014 – Garren Mims
• 2015 – Andrew "Pete" Sanchez, Jr.
• 2016 – Jay H. Banks
• 2017 – Adonis Expose
• 2018 – Brent D. Washington, Sr.
• 2019 – George V. Rainey
• 2020 – Brian M. Sims
• 2021 – cancelled due to COVID-19
• 2022 – Randolph "Rudy" Davis
• 2023 – Nick Spears
• 2024 – Melvin Labat

Queen of Zulu

In 1948 Edwina Robertson became the first Queen of Zulu, making the club the first to feature a queen in a parade. It is a tradition for the club to make a show of meeting the Zulu queen at the airport, but most years' Zulu queens live in New Orleans and therefore have to travel elsewhere so that they can make the flight into the airport for the ceremony.

See also

• Carnival
• New Orleans Mardi Gras

References

1. "Zulu's storied history symbolizes Mardi Gras for African Americans worldwide". WGNO. February 12, 2018. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
2. Point Park College; Pennsylvania Folklore Society; Lycoming College (1964). "Keystone Folklore Quarterly". Keystone Folklore Quarterly. 9 (Winter): 159–160. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
3. Krupa, Michelle (February 16, 2019). "The black leaders of an iconic Mardi Gras parade want you to know their 'black makeup is NOT blackface'". CNN. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
4. Deja Krewe. The Times-Picayune. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
5. Hahne, Elsa (January 28, 2015). "The Zulu Mardi Gras Parade's Coconut Lady Is Hard At Work". Offbeat Magazine. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
6. ^ "Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club elects its 2015 king". The New Orleans Advocate. New Orleans, LA. June 10, 2014. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
7. "Zulu Kings". www.kreweofzulu.com. Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club. 2010. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
8. ^ Whirty, Ryan (March 4, 2019). "Zulus' history and lore on parade, again". The Louisiana Weekly. New Orleans. Archived from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
9. Monteverde, Danny (February 20, 2012). "Mardi Gras 2012's Zulu is Elroy A. James". www.mardigras.com. NOLA Media Group. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
10. Strachan, Sue (February 2013). "Cedric George Givens, King Zulu 2013". New Orleans Magazine. New Orleans, LA: myneworleans.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
11. McClendon, Robert (February 27, 2014). "'Sleeping giant' Garren Mims to be crowned King Zulu 2014". www.mardigras.com. NOLA Media Group. Archived from the original on December 17, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
12. MacCash, Doug (May 31, 2015). "Zulu crowns Jay H. Banks as its king for Mardi Gras 2016 in Sunday elections". www.mardigras.com. NOLA Media Group. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
13. Larino, Jennifer (February 24, 2017). "Not one for average, King Zulu Adonis Expose earns 'ultimate' honor with 2017 reign". www.mardigras.com. nola.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
14. Larino, Jennifer (February 9, 2018). "From 9th Ward kid to Carnival royalty, 2018 King Zulu Brent D. Washington Sr. is 'one of the strong'". www.nola.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
15. Scott, Mike (February 25, 2020). "The kid who would be king: Brian Sims' reign as Zulu 2020 has been 35 years in the making". NOLA.com. New Orleans, Louisiana. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
16. MacCash, Doug (December 4, 2020). "Zulu will not crown a king in 2021; 'historic moment,' krewe says". NOLA.com. New Orleans, Louisiana. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
17. Watkins, Christina (June 1, 2021). "Carnival Central: Zulu announces 2022 King-elect, characters". WDSU News. New Orleans, Louisiana. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
18. Leach, Christopher (February 20, 2023). "Zulu Ball 2023: A Dazzling Affair". WGNO TV. New Orleans, Louisiana. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
19. Spera, Keith (February 12, 2024). "As King Zulu 2024, Melvin Labat sees New Orleans at its best. He's also seen its worst". NOLA.com. New Orleans, Louisiana. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
20. Scott, Liz (February 2000). "Queen Gee: She Brought a Touch of Hollywood to the Zulu Throne". New Orleans Magazine. Vol. 34, no. 5. New Orleans, LA. pp. 14–15.

Further reading

• Linda Villarosa, "'A Terrible Price': The Deadly Racial Disparities of Covid-19 in America," New York Times, April 29, 2020.

External links

• Official website

• 1916 establishments in Louisiana
• Mardi Gras in New Orleans
• Organizations established in 1916
• Parades in the United States