Macy’s called Zeta Phi Beta’s sorority a ‘diverse dance group’ when they appeared at historic parade

Macy’s is under fire for a culturally insensitive tweet sent during Macy’s Thanksgiving parade yesterday.

While Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s Stages Team, Incorporated performed live during the iconic parade, becoming the first Black Greek Letter (Divine 9) organization’s stages team to do so, the brand called the women a “diverse dance group” in a tweet since deleted.

It didn’t take long for Twitter to recapture the callous tag, which many found particularly offensive because the women of Zeta Phi Beta are currently celebrating their historic centenary this year. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. was founded on January 16, 1920 on the principles of scholarship, service, brotherly love, and more refined femininity and the global organization has served communities around the world through service for 100 years and more.

As the internet collectively celebrated the ladies’ historic performance, many also shared their disappointment that Macy’s would invite members of Zeta Phi Beta to make history on the parade without actually knowing the powerful history of the international organization and the importance of performance. of celebration throughout the year of their centenary.

Diverse dance group? ??‍♀️ Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is not a dance group. It is a historically black international sorority. pic.twitter.com/DBwBawZ04u

– Renaissance Woman (@ShaakiraWhite) November 26, 2020

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. hasn’t been around 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 are not a “diverse dance group”. We are an international sorority celebrating our centenary.

– THEE SKIN BAE✨, India, PA-C?? (@IndieBombDotCom) November 26, 2020

sorority zeta phi beta, 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 – you all miss the big picture here.

– Mike Taddow (@taddmike) November 26, 2020

dude if your social team doesn’t know what they’re talking about – especially when it comes to issues involving black / culture – don’t post it for your brand.

hire more black people.

– Mike Taddow (@taddmike) November 26, 2020

Aside from the backlash, the organization did not miss the opportunity to celebrate the Sorors who stepped in 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 participated in the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade this year! You were all #Finer and represented Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, well incorporated! I said my Sorors !!!! The organization shared in a post-performance tweet which included a group photo of the stage team.

After deleting the original problematic tweet, Macy sent out a new tweet that read, “Look who just MOVED things forward. We loved having @ZPHIBHQ – an international, historically black sorority – with us at #MacysParade for their centenary.

To learn more about the historical legacy of Zeta Phi Beta, visit zphib1920.org