Student Crowned for D.C. Mardi Gras

Although many distinctions are conferred on Harvard students and graduates, few get to become royalty. At this year's Mardi Gras festivities in Washington, D.C., an undergraduate and a 1971 law school graduate will become queen and king for a week.

Jamila E. Jefferson '94, daughter of Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La), will be the queen of this year's festivities.

Trevor G. Bryan, who has known the elder Jefferson since they attended Harvard Law School together, will reign as king.

Jefferson, an American history and Afro-American Studies concentrator, is one of the youngest Democratic Party officials in Louisiana. She has served since January on the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee, which raises funds for Democratic candidates and helps to make local policy decisions.

Jefferson's queenship will include a trip to Baton Rouge next week, where she will attend a reception in the governor's mansion, she said. She will then travel to Washington with the parade's princesses, who are elected by district in Louisiana.

In Washington, the king, queen and princesses will attend events such as "Louisiana Alive," where the best chefs of Louisiana will flaunt their skill, according to Jefferson. The princesses and several honorary queens will pay homage to Jefferson and Bryan, who will reign over the formal ball from an elaborate throne.

Forty-six years ago, the Louisiana Congressional delegation, chaired this year by William Jefferson, began to bring Mardi Gras to Washington for delegates who could not go home to New Orleans, according to Bryan. The chair of the delegation traditionally appoints friends or relatives to be king and queen.

According to people involved with the event this year, many hope the leadership of Jefferson. Louisiana's first Black representative since Reconstruction, may help to ease the racial tension that has lately marred Mardi Gras.

"There was a controversy recently because there was an ordinance that had as its aim to integrate the krewes[New Orleans social organizations]. The old line krewes were not integrated," Bryan said.

Traditionally the krewes, which are responsible for arranging the Mardi Gras floats parades and other celebration, have had considerable social clout New Orleans.

The selection of a Black king and queen is more representative of the true multicultural tradition of the Mardi Gras festival. Bryan said.

[Mardi Gras is symbolic. It shows various ethnic groups can retain their cultural identity and the city can somehow how blend these things together. That's why there's so much good food and good music," Bryan said. "It's unique. It really is unique."

Jefferson said the presence of a Black king and queen is more incidental than symbolic of any progress, since Black presence at Mardi Gras has always been strong.

Further, she said, she was chosen because her father is chair of the Louisiana Congressional delegation. "My father is African-American, so I am too," said Jefferson

Jefferson said the presence of a Black king and queen is more incidental than symbolic of any progress, since Black presence at Mardi Gras has always been strong.

Further, she said, she was chosen because her father is chair of the Louisiana Congressional delegation. "My father is African-American, so I am too," said Jefferson