With the rise of white supremacist movements worldwide, the Confederate flag can no longer pass as the nod-and-wink signifier of Southern pride that it once was. That’s what guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd has discovered, as his love of that iconic image, plastered on his guitars and his car, has caused him to lose his 2021 Blues Music Awards (BMA) nomination for Best Blues/Rock Artist.
The Blues Foundation, which hosts and organizes the BMAs, first posted a Statement Against Racism last Monday, which states that the organization “unequivocally condemns all forms and expressions of racism, including all symbols associated with white supremacy and the degradation of people of color. We will hold ourselves as well as all blues musicians, fans, organizations, and members of the music industry accountable for racist actions and encourage concrete commitments to acknowledge and redress the resulting pain.”
Three days later, the organization announced that Shepherd’s nomination had been rescinded, noting in a statement that “The decision to rescind the nomination was based upon continuing revelations of representations of the Confederate flag on Shepherd’s ‘General Lee’ car, guitars and elsewhere. The Blues Foundation has also asked Ken Shepherd, father of Kenny Wayne Shepherd, to step down as a member of its Board of Directors. The Blues Foundation states that it is resolute in its commitment to purposefully address racism and contribute to a more equitable blues community.”
Yesterday, the Associated Press reported that Shepherd had issued an apology, noting that “The foundation says Shepherd has used the Confederate flag on his ‘General Lee’ replica car from ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ and on his guitars. Shepherd says in a statement he put the car in permanent storage years ago, and had painted over the Confederate flag some time ago. He does not mention the guitars. Shepherd says he has always opposed racism and oppression.”
As reported by Variety, “The moves followed statements from prominent figures in the blues community who indicated they planned to dissociate themselves from the organization because of the kudos this year for Shepherd, a previous Blues Awards winner. Muddy Waters’ daughter, Mercy Morganfield, had said she was resigning from the board because of the support for Shepherd.”
Morganfield had made a Facebook post about the matter titled “The Way My Daddy Looks At a White Man Winning a Blues Foundation Music Award While Waving A F****g Confederate Flag.” Her post has since been deleted.
