Flyers and Yankees banning Kate Smith's 'God Bless America' at games over racist past points to tone deafness in understanding impact of racism--not hyper political correctness

By Mona Austin

The Philadelphia Flyers hockey team  and New York Yankees baseball team will no longer play Kate Smith's famous rendition of "God Bless America."  Smith, who is deceased, was a team emblem of the Flyers they say because her song seemed to bring them luck. A statue was built in her honor and her voice was heard traditionally for decades before games started.  Written By Irvin Berlin, "God Bless America" is a literal patriotic prayer for the nation. The team had played Smith's version of the song since 1969. In and of itself, the song is not an issue, but it is being banned due to Smith's connection to it after the teams became aware of her racist past.

ESPN's STEVEN A. SMITH WEIGHS IN ON THE KATE SMITH STATUE CONTROVERSY-- CLICK HERE TO LISTEN. Recently it was discovered that as an entertainer Smith sang songs with racial slurs in the lyrics such as "darkies"  and "Pickaninnies."  Her song  "That's Why Darkies Were Born"  spoke of Blacks existing to  pick cotton and corn.  

On Sunday, April 21 in a statement the Flyers distanced themselves from the singer saying: “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. 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.”   The Flyers also removed the statue of Kate Smith from outside of their stadium.

Smith's family released a statement saying: "Not only was she not a racist, she was a loving soul. . ." They are not the only ones who feel removing the statue was a foul. However, the disagreement on the controversy is primarily along racial lines, demonstrating on-going tone deafness about the long-lasting impact of systematic racism.

LZ Granderson, ESPN Host, (who is Black) said on CNN that Smith did not just sing racist words, she expressed racism by wearing Black face and it does not matter how long ago it was, such imagery was at the epicenter of Black people's pain and should not be celebrated. Many popular artists from Smith's era were also known to have performed in Black face, like "The World's Greatest Entertainer" Al ,who did it in productions with Black performers also wearing Black face (mainly to remain employed.)  When Blacks and Whites performed music from the minstrel genre, it could have a different  sentiments, meaning and purpose.  For example,  Paul Robeson also recorded "That's Why Darkies Were Born" but conveyed through his delivery that he empathized with the happily oppressed Black stereotype the lyrics promote.   Racially insensitive behavior in entertainment that was tolerated and normal in society 80 years ago when Smith was a performer is less acceptable today, although there is copious evidence of people online striving to both look and act "Black."  The same people who appropriate "Blackness" are commonly not cognizant of how their personal decisions perpetuate racism. Typically unempathetic and with no apology they spread messages about who Black people are, and what they think and feel continues to wrongfully define what is in fact racist. That's the hardest part of addressing the harm in situations like this one. The definition of racism is not the same for Blacks and Whites. Non-Blacks continuing to spread stereotypes makes it more difficult for some to understand where the line of unacceptable behavior is drawn.
Case in point: When Pastor Jeremiah Wright said "God Damn America" spinning the title "God Bless America", Whites demanded then candidate Barack Obama denounce him. Wright's views were considered to be racially charged to Whites, but not Blacks. Many Blacks understood his point of view. It would appear to be a double standard if Smith's statue stood proudly knowing the lyrics "God bless America" and "someone had to slave and be able to sing, that's why darkies were born" came out of the same mouth without being condemned.

African Americans often want Whites and others to use their voices to fill the chasm of silence on race-related issues instead of appearing to fight the resulting discrimination alone.  This silence corners racism as being an autonomously "Black" issue, while the ramifications of racism affects an entire society.

Recently, the governor and attorney general of Virginia came under fire for dressing in Black face during their college years. Their actions offended people of various races, reflecting modern day progress on race relations. Meanwhile, in a broader context racism against Black people is intensifying in American society. Blacks are disproportionately the victims of officer-involved shootings and viral videos that show White men and women harassing unassuming Blacks in  public spaces. There is still work to do.

Unlike many politicians, the Red Skins owners or historic preservationists, the two sports teams did not debate their decision to dismantle  a symbolic relic of America's racist past and are sticking to their decision despite the controversy. The Flyers and Yankees wanted to avoid appearing racially insensitive, especially publicly and in businesses where the viability of brands depend on fan support, regardless of race.  Is controversy over the statue a product of over-political correctness and bad timing or sheer racism? AL JOLSON PERFORMS IN BLACK FACE