“[O]ur hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases black women and men have always faced and continue to face every day. … After much personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest black friends and colleagues, we have decided to drop the word ‘antebellum’ from our name and move forward… When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the southern ‘antebellum’ style home where we took our first photos. … But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before the civil war, which includes slavery. We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued. Causing pain was never our hearts’ intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that indeed, it did just that.”
Unfortunately, the move was so rash they didn’t take the time to research whether or not that name belonged to another performer. Indeed it did. Lady A is a New Orleans based blues singer who has used the moniker for over 20 years. She also happens to be black. She expressed her bewilderment at the move in an interview with Rolling Stone last month.
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