The award-winning Americana songwriter, Oh Susanna, has changed her name to Suzie Ungerleider due to the racial connetations attached to her previous name.
In a post on her facebook page Suzie stated: “Throughout my life, I have searched to define who I am and who I want to be. Over the last few years, this led me to look at the name Oh Susanna – a persona I took on 25 years ago – and see if it still expressed who I am today. I realized it had begun to feel like an old costume I used to wear but no longer fit. Last summer, I also came face to face with the song’s original racist lyrics and knew that its racism was definitely not what I stand for nor want to perpetuate. I decided I wanted to take positive action and leave the name and the song “Oh Susanna” behind. I embrace this opportunity to fully merge the artistic and personal parts of myself, to stand up for what I believe is right, to be who I am and who I want to be. And so, my friends, my name is Suzie Ungerleider.”
A number of artists in the country and americana genre have taken a similar action in the last year, most notably Lady A formerly known as Lady Antebellum and The Chicks formerly known as The Dixie Chicks.
Read Suzie’s statement on her facebook page HERE!
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Media contact
Zoe Hodges,
Editor, Maverick Magazine
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823920
Email: editor@maverick-country.com
