First they covered it up, trying to encase all those memories in some kind of black shroud.
Then they removed it altogether.
Removing the memories of Kate Smith and her ties to the Flyers will be a bit harder.
For decades, hearkening back to the team’s glory days as back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, Kate Smith has been intimately linked to the Orange and Black.
Her rendition of “God Bless America” – a tradition started by then team Vice President back in 1969 – became the team’s unofficial anthem. When Kate sang – especially in person – the Flyers won. She quickly became the team’s good luck charm.
When she strode out onto the ice to deliver the goods in person before a crucial Stanley Cup Final game vs. the Boston Bruins, it became one of those electric moments in Philly sports, the kind that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Kate Smith loved the Broad Street Bullies, often referring to them as “her boys.” And the Flyers nation loved Kate Smith.
All of which makes the events of the past few days that much more difficult.
This started in New York, where the Yankees, who also had adopted “God Bless America” as an inspirational anthem during the 7th inning stretch, announced they were cutting ties with the song after questions were raised about the lyrics of several other songs that the iconic “Songbird of the South” singer recorded and performed.
Nearly 70 years ago.
Yes, this is about songs and lyrics that date back seven decades.
But the clearly racist words and images conjured up by those songs still sting today.
First the Flyers moved to quickly cover the statue of Smith that was erected after her death in 1986. It stood prominently at the South Philadelphia sports complex for more than three decades. At the same time they also announced they would no longer feature “God Bless America.”
Two days later, the statue of the late singer was removed by the team, which issued a new statement indicating that despite their long relationship with both the song and the artist, the team had made the difficult decision to sever their ties with the artist.
“The NHL principle ‘Hockey Is For Everyone’ is at the heart of everything the Flyers stand for,” said team President Paul Holmgren. “As a result we cannot stand idle while material from another era gets in the way of who we are today.”
This wasn’t a two-minute minor penalty. The team was issuing a lifetime ban.
Smith – and “God Bless America” – are gone. Just like that.
The problem was not “God Bless America” per se. It’s really not even with Kate Smith. The problem was with lyrics of several other songs performed by Smith generations ago, words that clearly connote the worst kind of racial stereotypes.
Like what you might ask? Like “That’s Why Darkies Were Born.” Yeah, it’s that bad.
Go ahead, make all the counter-arguments you like. It was another era, 70 years ago to be precise. It wasn’t considered racist at the time. Smith was a young performer trying to break into the business. It was performed by another star, Paul Robeson, himself an African-American and pioneering civil rights advocate.
Sadly, those lyrics passed as entertainment 70 years ago. They don’t today.
And they sit every bit the shroud over Kate Smith’s image as that black tarp the Flyers placed over her statue. And to continue to feature Smith’s tour de force song would have ignored that fact and reflected not on what happened in the past, but on the team’s image and perception right now.
Smith, who died in 1986, performed “God Bless America” in person several times.
It has remained a feature of the team, often performed by local songstress Lauren Hart, the daughter of legendary Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart.
There is no way to do this quietly. Or easily.
Once the Yankees made their decision, it was only a matter of time before this was going to fall in the Flyers’ laps. They probably would have helped themselves by simply quietly removing the statue and indicating they were cutting ties with the song – and Smith.
First covering up her statue, which stood for years outside the Xfinity Live! complex, seemed a bit odd.
There is no shortage of fans who are angry at the Flyers’ decision.
They rail about political correctness run amok. They note these songs and lyrics were performed in the 1930s.
And they would be correct.
It does not change the ugly tenor behind these comments.
Confronting racism is never easy.
Just ask the Flyers, who now find themselves having antagonized a large section of what many consider the most faithful, zealous following in pro sports. In short, Flyers’ fans are giving the organization an earful.
It’s one thing to miss the playoffs. It’s another altogether to ban Kate Smith.
Nothing about dealing with racism is easy.
God Bless America? Absolutely.
But God bless the sentiment that lurks behind lyrics such as “That’s Why Darkies Were Born”?
No.
The Flyers made the right call.
