Flyers drop Kate Smith's 'God Bless America,' cover her statue over her ...
Philadelphia Flyers cover Kate Smith's statue and ban her 1939 rendition of 'God Bless America' after learning of racially 'offensive' song lyrics from her past one day after the Yankees dropped the song from their playlist Kate Smith's rendition of 'God Bless America' will no longer being played at Philadelphia Flyers games after racist song lyrics from her past emerged Smith's statue near the Flyers' arena was covered one day after it was reported that her 'God Bless America' is no longer being played at Yankees games Her version of 'God Bless America' has been seen as a good luck charm for the Flyers since 1969, when the team began playing it before games Smith's racially insensitive songs include titles such as 'Pickaninny Heaven' and 'That's Why Darkies Were Born,' the latter of which was allegedly satirical She reportedly said she directed 'Pickaninny Heaven' at 'colored children,' and she included a line about a wonderful place with 'great big watermelons' Smith went on to sing 'God Bless America' at the Spectrum four times, including Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals when the Flyers won their first title The Yankees had been using Smith's 1939 'God Bless America' recording over the last 18 seasons, following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
By Alex Raskin Sports News Editor For Dailymail.com
Published: 17:04 BST, 19 April 2019 | Updated: 17:04 BST, 19 April 2019
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The Philadelphia Flyers have covered a statue of Kate Smith and announced that the team will no longer play her 1939 rendition of 'God Bless America' after learning of racially offensive song lyrics from the late singer's past.
Smith's statue near the Flyers' Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia was covered in black cloth on Friday
