Lady Antebellum Changed Its Name — Its Reasons Should Inspire America To Change Too

On Thursday, Grammy-winning country band Lady Antebellum formally changed its name to Lady A. In a lengthy statement explaining the change, the band members acknowledged they didn’t fully appreciate the weight that the name represented for those who, correctly, associate the term with America’s pre-Civil War history of slavery.

In the surprising, but heartfelt gesture, band members Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley expressed regret and embarrassment for not previously taking into consideration the association the word “antebellum” has with slavery. In the statement that they posted online, the group explained both the origin of the name, and their decision to change it.

“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,” the band said in the statement. “As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that influenced us…Southern Rock, Blues, R&B, Gospel and of course Country.”

“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,” the band wrote. “Causing pain was never our hearts’ intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that indeed, it did just that. So today, we speak up and make a change.”

Lady A’s change comes as America is coming to terms with some of the most dramatic and rapid shifts in America’s attitude towards race in the nation’s history. The protests that swept the nation in the aftermath of Georg Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers have shaken the nation and sparked deep soul searching by many about the country’s racist past. In turn, no corner of American society has been left untouched by the moment, as political leaders, entertainment celebrities, and sports figures have all had to reckon with ways their conduct has reinforced institutional racism. Sports leagues such as the NFL and NASCAR have addressed their past policies that were seen to prejudice Black people, and even leading media publications have been forced to apologize for their past actions.

But perhaps most dramatically, the old symbols of the Confederacy, the group of states that seceded from the United States and sparked America’s Civil War, are finally being seen for the racist and incendiary associations they represent to Black Americans. The movement to take down statutes of Confederate war heroes, which has long been debated in the U.S., has accelerated exponentially. Sports leagues like NASCAR are banning the Confederate flag at its events. Military bases named for Confederate generals are under consideration to be renamed. And even movies like the Academy Award winning movie Gone with the Wind are being temporarily pulled from online media channels. Lady A’s name change is the most recent example.

But it won’t be the last.

A century and a half after the end of the Civil War and the reunification of the United States, America is perhaps just now, finally, grappling with the unfinished work of bridging and healing a nation divided by race. Despite an effort at reconstruction following the war, America never truly has made amends for the devastating effect of slavery on the nation and those who descended from individuals that had been enslaved. Despite the Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s and 60’s, and the continuing efforts to achieve racial justice, the United States has never fully grappled with the institutional racism embedded in its society and encapsulated by so much of its culture. In failing to do so, the United States has failed to truly accept responsibility for its long-troubled track record with respect to race.

And now, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, the nation is having its mirror moment, where each and every one of use are looking at a reflection of who we are, and how we could be better.

The fact is, all of white America should be having a Lady Antebellum moment right now – questioning how what we have said and done may have perpetuated stereotypes, racism or other expressions hurtful to our fellow Americans who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color. We need to take this moment and ask ourselves what could we have done better and what must we change so we can do better in the future.

Lady’ A’s statement is a good roadmap:

“Blind spots we didn’t even know existed have been revealed,” Lady A’s statement said. “After much personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closes black friends and colleagues, we have decided to drop the word ‘antebellum’ from our name and move forward as Lady A, the nickname our fans gave us almost from the start.”

Lady Antebellum may no longer exist, but the band will play on with a new name, and perhaps even a new mindset that will make it even more welcoming and inclusive than it was before.

Let’s pray we can say is the same thing about America.