Chicago’s mass transit system apologized this week after a tweet recognizing Abraham Lincoln for Black History Month sparked a backlash.
The Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) official Twitter account retweeted a post with photos of a man dressed as the Great Emancipator waiting for the Red Line train.
“In honor of Black History Month, Abraham Lincoln was seen making a guest appearance on the CTA,” the CTA wrote Wednesday, which was also Lincoln’s 111th birthday.
The tweet was quickly deleted after users criticized the agency for celebrating a white man during Black History Month, the Chicago Tribune reported.
“Apologies,” the CTA later tweeted, “unfortunately our last retweet went in a direction that was not at all intended. Nonetheless, we WILL continue to honor the African Americans who have played a large role in CTA history.”
The apology received mixed reviews, with many users questioning why Lincoln wouldn’t be considered a key historical figure in black history.
“God forbid that you honor someone who played a critical role in promoting freedom for black people even to the point of losing his life — if he ain’t black?” one critic wrote.
Earlier this month, CTA tweeted historical photos of black former CTA employees to celebrate Black History Month, the Tribune reported.
