The country music trio “Dixie Chicks” have renamed themselves “The Chicks” due to the word “Dixie’s” association with slavery, according to multiple reports.
The band, which consists of members Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, and Emily Strayer, revealed their new name following the release of their new song, “March March,” on Thursday and similarly, altered their band name on social media to reflect the change.
Although the band has changed their name, there hasn’t been any announcement made by the group to explain to their fans how the change was brought about. The only thing they said in a press release posted to their Facebook page was a quote that read, “If your voice held no power, they wouldn’t try to silence you.”
The word Dixie was used as a word to describe the 11 states that had slavery. The name originally came from Jeremiah Dixon who, back in the 1760s, lent his name to the border that separated the free and slave states in America. While the name doesn’t particularly point to one specific meaning, it was generally used to refer to the Southern United States, which were composed of the Confederate States of America.
The band’s move to change their name came after another country group, “Lady Antebellum,” changed their name because of the word “Antebellum’s” association with slavery. The word, meaning before a war, is widely associated with the pre-Civil War period when slavery was legal.
In a statement, the band wrote they were “regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take this into account the association that weigh down this word.”
They changed their name to Lady A, with some expressing support and others expressing criticism over the change.
According to CTV News, the name “Lady A” is already being used by another performer, who has been known as “Lady A” for a long time.
Similarly, “The Chicks” also became aware of a group in New Zealand already performing under the name “The Chicks,” according to The Washington Post, which reported that the group has since gotten permission to share the name.
“A sincere and heartfelt thank you goes out to ‘The Chicks’ of NZ for their gracious gesture in allowing us to share their name. We are honoured to co-exist together in the world with these exceptionally talented sisters. Chicks Rock!” the band said in a statement.
