By Lucy Komisar

The Macy’s thanksgiving day parade started 100 years ago. Yes this is the centenary. Immigrant workers at Macy’s department store wanted to recreate the parades that they and their families produced in this season in their home countries. But alas, Macy’s, now a corporate operation that has no interest in their workers’ history, did not commemorate the event’s origins. Most of the floats are commercial — buy this, watch this on video.

But there are still some parts of the parade that are worth seeing. This year, the best was dance.

Ronald K. Brown is a major choreographer. He was there with some of his dance troupe. One of the dancers told me they will be at the Joyce in February. The Joyce is a terrific dance venue in NYC — and not expensive.

And there was a local dance company, I Love Dance NYC. I hope this will become a tradition.

Also prominent was NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. She was surrounded by aides, one of whom told people huddled behind the metal grates that the parade was because of her. No, it wasn’t!! Why do people make up such nonsense?

Mayor Adams was also there. When a black photographer called out to him as “Bro,” I asked the guy what he thought the chances were that Adams would be in jail. So corrupt corrupt corrupt! No, I didn’t take his picture.

Then the best were a few exotic floats, like this pirate ship.

And of course the marching bands. From the South. Why would they come to NYC to freeze? (No groups from the North!)

University of North Alabama

Bell HS From Texas, Alcorn ASU from Mississippi and Catawba Ridge from South Carolina!

And the clowns. My favorite the cop and the rat. And the lady clown.

And Snowflake Stilt walkers and Vikings.

Of course, there should have been floats telling the story of how this parade started. But we are in late stage capitalism where the contributions of workers are not acknowledged.

All photos by Lucy Komisar.