Alabama A&M will lead bands in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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November 22, 2023

By Char Adams, NBC

It will be the first time the historically Black university has performed in the annual parade.

Alabama A&M Marching Band — The Alabama A&M University marching band in Atlanta on Jan. 15. (Paras Griffin / Getty Images file)

When almost a dozen marching bands make their way through the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, there will be a sea of maroon and white. That’ll be Alabama A&M’s Marching Maroon and White band.

Officials selected Alabama A&M to lead the 11 marching bands in the parade, making it the historically Black university’s first band appearance in the event’s almost 100-year history. The university’s Dancin’ Divas will perform with the band, and again in a special performance with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, the university announced.

Carlton Wright, director of the university bands, told USA Today that Alabama A&M applied two years ago. He learned the band had been accepted in February last year and the Marching Maroon and White immediately began fundraising and rehearsing for the New York trip.

With the big performance coming Thursday, Wright said, it’s “really real now.”

NBC has details about the band and pefmorance.

Another HBCU first will happen next year.

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