NEW ORLEANS - Jay Banks may not have known it then, but he laid the foundation for his reign as King Zulu 2016 ten years ago, when no one was even sure there would be a Zulu parade, just six months after Hurricane Katrina.
At a meeting for displaced club members, there was heated debate over whether Zulu – whose predominantly African-American membership and even its clubhouse on Broad Street were greatly impacted by the storm and federal levee failures – could or even should parade in February 2006.
"The first meeting after the storm was in a closed lounge in Brusly, Louisiana and we called members wherever they were and we met in Brusly," Banks explained. "And at that meeting the discussion was whether or not we were going to parade."
He said there were heated arguments against parading and he was just as adamant that the club should parade. Banks, who had just become a full member of Zulu a few months earlier, gave an impassioned speech at that meeting.
"I told them the first casualty of Katrina was normal. Normal died first in Katrina. Normal for New Orleanians is Zulu on Mardi Gras morning. And after I made that speech, the president of the club at that time made me the chairman of public relations, which put me on television and in the magazines and newspapers."
Many credit Zulu for its decision to parade that year, since media outlets from across the country and around the world were here to cover that Mardi Gras and document the fact that the city's spirit survived, even if it was damaged physically and emotionally by the storm. Banks played a key role, as a spokesman for the club in media interviews aired worldwide.
Now, ten years later, Banks is King Zulu and will lead the parade on Mardi Gras morning. His reign coincides with the 100th anniversary of Zulu's incorporation in 1916. Zulu is also a family affair for him, with his brother Gralen, and two sons, Ryan Banks and Garland Thomas, all members of the krewe.
"It is absolutely indescribable. This is an extremely historic year in the history of Zulu and to be the king this year makes it all that more special. It is an absolute dream," he said.
Banks, a native New Orleanian, is a product of New Orleans Public Schools, having graduated from McMain Magnet Secondary School. He is a Dillard University graduate as well.
His queen is also his wife, Artelia Bennett Banks. The two began dating when he was 13 and she was 12 years old.
"Jay is a very standup gentleman, he's very dependable, he will go out of his way to do almost anything for anyone," she said of her husband. "And of course I'm honored that he chose me as his queen, since the king does select the queen. Although he didn't have much choice," she laughed.
Mrs. Banks is also a native New Orleanian. In addition to their two sons, the couple has one granddaughter. Mrs. Banks attended John W. Hoffman Elementary School, Sacred Heart Academy Middle School and graduated from Xavier Prep High School in 1978. She received her degree from Southern University in 1983. She began a career with the state Department of Social Services (now the Department of Children and Family Services) in 1987. She has worked in various roles in state government over the years and is currently a program specialist with the Office of Family Support Quality Control Unit.
She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and an alumna of the Epsilon Chi chapter at Southern, where she remains active. She has been a community volunteer for many organizations and she and her husband are lifelong members of New Zion Baptist Church, where they are also active.
In addition to his work in Zulu, this year's king is very active in the community. He is on the board of the Morial Convention Center, a board member of the Jazz and Heritage Foundation and WWOZ. He is also involved in the political scene, as political director for the campaign group BOLD. He previously served as chief of staff for two City Council members: Dorothy Mae Taylor and Jim Singleton. He is a former board member of the Dryades YMCA and Neighborhood Housing Services.
In his spare time, he also enjoys reading, gardening, cooking and fantasy football. But most of his free time lately has been spent on Zulu activities, and that is a year-round effort.
"Our function isn't just Carnival," he explained. "We put on the biggest and best parade but the biggest thing we do is the community service year round, from our mentoring program to our senior citizen program and Toys for Tots events at the holidays. Social aid is as real as pleasure. We believe in giving back as much as we believe in giving fun times to people."
