APOLIGIZING -UNITENDED- RACISM : WORLD

LOS ANGELES : LADY Antebellum changes name over slavery association. The country band apologises for unintended racism.

Country music group Lady Antebellum, on Thursday, changed its name to Lady A, saying it regretted its blindspot over the name's associated with a time of slavery in the United States.

The trio, one of the most successful in country music, said in an open letter that they took the name 14 years ago after the Southern antebellum style home where they took their first photos.

''But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account that associations that weigh down this word referring to the period that of history before the Civil War, which includes slavery.

We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and anyone who had felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued,'' the group added.

Antebellum is a term used to describe culture in the Southern United States before the Civil War. when slavery was an accepted practice.

''We've watched and listened more than ever these past few weeks and our 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.

Now blindspots, we didn't even know existed have been revealed,'' the statement read further.

The group formed in Nashville in 2006 and best known for hit records like Grammy winner Need You Now, said the change was made in response to mass protests over systemic racism spurred by the death of the African American George Floyd under the knee of a white police officer.

It is formed by singer Hillary Scott from Tennessee, guitarist Charles Kelly from North Carolina and guitar and piano player Dave Haywood from Georgia. {Reuters]