‘Racist lyrics and sentiments’: Philadelphia Flyers remove statue to singer Kate Smith
NHL team the Philadelphia Flyers have officially removed a statue of singer Kate Smith outside their stadium, after the team’s management said they learnt that some of her songs contained “racist lyrics and sentiments.”
In addition to the statue’s relocation, the NHL team also banned the use of Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" during home games as part of measures it said were aimed at tackling racism.
READ MORE: ‘God Bless America’ singer banned over ‘racist’ 1930s songs
The monument, which was installed in 1987 to honor the singing star who soared to fame in the 1930s and ‘40s, was covered with black cloth last week before being removed outside the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.
The Philadelphia Flyers have covered up a statue of Kate Smith because she sang some songs with racist lyrics in the 1940's. They won't even play her stirring rendition of "God Bless America" anymore. #triggered#snowflakes#Leavepoliticsoutofhockeypic.twitter.com/sQOXhJYj4n
— Mark Hill (@choprmark) April 19, 2019
The two songs in question are ‘Pickaninny Heaven’ (from a 1933 film) and ‘That’s Why Darkies Were Born’ (1931).
The latter song from the 1931 Broadway revue "George White's Scandals" was considered satire at that time, but includes language deemed inappropriate in modern society.
"The Flyers have enjoyed a long and popular relationship with 'God Bless America,' as performed by the late Kate Smith, a woman who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for her patriotic contributions to our nation,” the Flyers said in a statement.
#Flyers statement on Kate Smith: https://t.co/IkvBKFPGs4pic.twitter.com/FHQIttpFWJ
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 21, 2019
"But in recent days, we learned that several of the songs Kate Smith performed in the 1930s include lyrics and sentiments that are incompatible with the values of our organization, and evoke painful and unacceptable themes."
