Getty By Essence ·November 27, 2020November 27, 2020
Macy’s is under fire for a culturally insensitive tweet sent out during yesterday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
While the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated step team performed live during the iconic parade, becoming the first Black Greek-lettered organization (Divine 9) step team to do so, the brand referred to the ladies as a “diverse dance group” in a since-deleted tweet.
It didn’t take long for Twitter to pick up on the insensitive label, which many found especially offensive because the women of Zeta Phi Beta are currently celebrating their historic centennial anniversary this year. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. was founded on January 16, 1920 on the principles of scholarship, service, sisterly love and finer womanhood and the global organization has given back to communities worldwide through service for 100 years and counting.
While the internet collectively celebrated the ladies’ historic performance, many also shared their disappoint in the fact that Macy’s would invite members of Zeta Phi Beta to make history at the parade without actually knowing the international organization’s powerful history and the significance of the performance being part of the year-long celebration of their centennial anniversary.
Diverse dance group? 
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated isn’t a dance group. It’s a historically Black international sorority. pic.twitter.com/DBwBawZ04u
— Renaissance Woman (@ShaakiraWhite) November 26, 2020
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. ain’t exist for 100 years just for Macy’s to call them a “diverse dance group.”
— T HIVE (@TevonBlair) November 26, 2020
As a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, incorporated, I would like to clarify that we aren’t a ‘diverse dance group’. We are an international sorority celebrating our centennial year.
— THEE SKIN BAE
, India, PA-C
(@IndieBombDotCom) November 26, 2020
zeta phi beta sorority, inc. is an international black greek-lettered sorority founded in 1920 that prides itself on being a servant leader in the community.“diverse dance group” is a reductive description — y’all missing the bigger picture here.
— mike taddow (@taddmike) November 26, 2020
man if your social team doesn’t know what they talkin about — especially when it pertains to matters involving black folk/culture — don’t post it for your brand.hire more black folk.
— mike taddow (@taddmike) November 26, 2020
an update pic.twitter.com/MkckWEoPEW
— mike taddow (@taddmike) November 26, 2020
Backlash aside, the organization didn’t miss the opportunity to celebrate the sorors who stepped during the parade and represented Zeta Phi Beta and Black culture with pride for the world to see.
“Congratulations again to our Centennial Steppers who performed in the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade this year! You all were #Finer and represented Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated well! I said my Sorors!!!!” the organization shared in a tweet after the performance that included a group photo of the step team.
After deleting the initial problematic tweet, Macy’s sent a new tweet that read, “Look who just STEPPED things up. We loved having @ZPHIBHQ — an international, historically Black Sorority —with us at the #MacysParade for their centennial.”
Congratulations again to our Centennial Steppers who performed in the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade this year! You all were #Finer and represented Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated well! I said my Sorors!!!!#zetaphibeta #zphib2020 #zphib pic.twitter.com/8nPyhB9G9I
— Zeta Phi Beta (@ZPHIBHQ) November 26, 2020
Somebody told the social media manager to look ZeTA Phi BeTA up! https://t.co/fR62JFVj6w
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) November 26, 2020
To learn more about Zeta Phi Beta’s historic legacy visit zphib1920.org
TOPICS: backlash Macy’s Zeta Phi Beta
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