Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club

Last updated

Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club
AbbreviationZulu S.A.P.
Formation1916;108 years ago (1916)
Type Carnival Krewe
Location
  • New Orleans, LA.
Website kreweofzulu.com
Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club Headquarters Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club Headquarters.png
Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club Headquarters

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. [1] The club is a regular feature of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Contents

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: [2]

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. [3] 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.[ citation needed ]

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.[ citation needed ]

Zulu coconut

The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club is well known to parade-goers for throwing coconuts to the crowd. [4] 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. [5]

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. [6]

Kings of Zulu

Source: [7]

  • 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 [8]
  • 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 [9]
  • 2013 – Cedric George Givens [10]
  • 2014 – Garren Mims [11]
  • 2015 – Andrew "Pete" Sanchez, Jr. [6]
  • 2016 – Jay H. Banks [12]
  • 2017 – Adonis Expose [13]
  • 2018 – Brent D. Washington, Sr. [14]
  • 2019 – George V. Rainey [8]
  • 2020 – Brian M. Sims [15]
  • 2021 – cancelled due to COVID-19 [16]
  • 2022 – Randolph "Rudy" Davis [17]
  • 2023 – Nick Spears [18]
  • 2024 – Melvin Labat [19]

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. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krewe</span> Group of dancers in a carnival parade

A krewe is a social organization that stages parades and/or balls for the Carnival season. The term is best known for its association with Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, but is also used in other Carnival celebrations throughout Louisiana and along the Gulf of Mexico, such as the Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa, Florida, Springtime Tallahassee, and Krewe of Amalee in DeLand, Florida with the Mardi Gras on Mainstreet Parade as well as in La Crosse, Wisconsin and at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mistick Krewe of Comus</span> New Orleans Mardi Gras Carnival krewe

The Mistick Krewe of Comus (MKC), founded in 1856, is the oldest extant New Orleans, Louisiana Carnival Krewe, the longest to continually parade with few interruptions from 1856 to 1991, and continues to hold a tableau ball for its members and guests, to date. Initially its public facade was The Pickwick Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rex parade</span> New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe

Rex is a New Orleans Carnival Krewe which stages one of the city's most celebrated parades on Mardi Gras Day. Rex is Latin for "King", and Rex reigns as "The King of Carnival".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras in New Orleans</span> Annual carnival celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana

The holiday of Mardi Gras is celebrated in southern Louisiana, including the city of New Orleans. Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, the season is known as Carnival and begins on 12th Night, January 6th, and extends until midnight before Ash Wednesday. Club, or Krewe, balls start soon after, though most are extremely private, with their Kings and Queens coming from wealthy old families and their courts consisting of the season's debutantes. Most of the high society Krewes do not stage parades. As Fat Tuesday gets nearer, the parades start in earnest. Usually there is one major parade each day ; many days have several large parades. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last five days of the Mardi Gras season. In the final week, many events occur throughout New Orleans and surrounding communities, including parades and balls.

The Krewe of OAK is a small neighborhood New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe and parade held in the Carrollton neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. The parade starts and ends on Oak Street, presumably the origin of the name, although members say that OAK stands for "Outrageous And Kinky".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krewe of Orpheus</span>

The Krewe of Orpheus is a New Orleans Mardi Gras super krewe and social organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lundi Gras</span> Shrove Monday events during Mardi Gras

Lundi Gras is a relatively recently popularized name for a series of Shrove Monday events taking place during the Mardi Gras. It includes the tradition of Rex, king of the New Orleans carnival, and Zulu King arriving by boat. This began in 1874, but the term Lundi Gras was not widely applied until 1987 when the arrival was brought back as part of a series of river-related events under the name of "Lundi Gras". Lundi Gras was the creation of journalist Errol Laborde. The event was staged with the cooperation of Riverwalk Marketplace and its then marketing director Carol Thistle Lentz. The events are detailed in Laborde's book, Krewe: The Early New Orleans Carnival from Comus to Zulu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krewe of Bacchus</span> Group in the New Orleans Mardi Gras

Krewe of Bacchus is a New Orleans Mardi Gras super krewe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama</span> Annual carnival celebration in Mobile, Alabama

Mardi Gras is the annual Carnival celebration in Mobile, Alabama. It is the oldest official Carnival celebration in the United States, started by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois in 1703 when Mobile was the capital of Louisiana. Although today New Orleans and South Louisiana celebrations are much more widely known for all the current traditions such as masked balls, parades, floats and throws were first created there. From Mobile being the first capital of French Louisiana (1702), the festival began as a French Catholic tradition. Mardi Gras has now evolved into a mainstream multi-week celebration across the spectrum of cultures, becoming school holidays for the final Monday and Tuesday, regardless of religious affiliation.

The Krewe of Muses is an all-female super krewe and social organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras throws</span> Trinkets thrown at Mardi Gras parade spectators

Mardi Gras throws are strings of beads, doubloons, cups, or other trinkets passed out or thrown from the floats for Mardi Gras celebrations, particularly in New Orleans, the Mobile, Alabama, and parades throughout the Gulf Coast of the United States, to spectators lining the streets. The "gaudy plastic jewelry, toys, and other mementos [are] tossed to the crowds from parading floats". The 'throws', consist of necklaces of plastic beads, coins called doubloons, which are stamped with krewes' logos, parade themes and the year, plus an array of plastic cups and toys such as Frisbees, figurines and LED trinkets. The plastic cups that are used as throws are sometimes referred to as New Orleans dinnerware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al "Carnival Time" Johnson</span> American singer and piano player (born 1939)

Al "Carnival Time" Johnson is an American singer and piano player best known for the Mardi Gras song "Carnival Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras in the United States</span> Celebration

Mardi Gras in the United States is celebrated in a number of cities and regions in the country. Most of these places trace their Mardi Gras celebrations to French, Spanish, and other Catholic colonial influences on the settlements over their history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krewe du Vieux</span> New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe

The Krewe du Vieux is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe more fully known as the Krewe du Vieux Carré.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus</span>

The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is a science fiction–themed Mardi Gras krewe, religious and parade organization, that also features fantasy and horror groups, among other fandoms. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, as of the 2019 parade, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus has over 2500 dues-paying members who call themselves "ChewbacchanALIENs" or "Chewbs."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knights of Momus</span> Krewe in the New Orleans Mardi Gras

The Knights of Momus (KoM) was founded in 1872 and was the second-oldest parading Old Line Krewe in New Orleans Carnival after the Mistick Krewe of Comus and is the third oldest krewe to continuously present a tableau ball, after the Twelfth Night Revelers in 1870.

The Mystic Krewe of Nyx is an all-female Krewe organization, based in New Orleans. Organized and founded by Julie Lea in 2011, the Nyx's first pageant, "NOLA Reality Reigns," was featured on the St. Charles Avenue Parade Route on February 15, 2012. The Mystic Krewe of Nyx is named after the Greek goddess of the night, Nyx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mardi Gras Doubloons</span> Coin-like Mardi Gras throws commemorating Mardi Gras Krewes

Mardi Gras Doubloons are Mardi Gras throws shaped like coins that commemorate various Mardi Gras Krewes. They are typically made of aluminum and are thrown from floats in carnival parades. The first doubloons used as throws from parades of Mardi Gras Krewes date to 1960, and these early doubloons are collectible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krewe of Cleopatra</span> New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe

The Krewe of Cleopatra is a New Orleans Mardi Gras Super Krewes and social organization.

Krewe of King Arthur is a coed New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe.

References

  1. ↑ "Zulu's storied history symbolizes Mardi Gras for African Americans worldwide". WGNO. February 12, 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. 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.
  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. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club elects its 2015 king". The New Orleans Advocate. New Orleans, LA. June 10, 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. 1 2 Whirty, Ryan (March 4, 2019). "Zulus' history and lore on parade, again". The Louisiana Weekly . New Orleans. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ Watkins, Christina (June 1, 2021). "Carnival Central: Zulu announces 2022 King-elect, characters". WDSU News. New Orleans, Louisiana. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  18. ↑ Leach, Christopher (February 20, 2023). "Zulu Ball 2023: A Dazzling Affair". WGNO TV. New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. 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

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.