The Flyers cover the statue of singer Smith amid allegations of racism



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DOSSIER – In this May 13, 1975, archive photo, Kate Smith sings "God Bless America" ​​before an NHL Stanley Cup playoff game between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia. The New York Yankees suspended the use of Smith's record of "God Bless America" ​​during the seventh round while they were investigating an allegation of racism at the time. against the singer. (AP photo, file)

AP

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers cover a statue of singer Kate Smith on the outside of their arena, closely follow the New York Yankees and examine allegations of racism against the star of the 1930s with a popular recording of "God Bless America".

The Flyers officials announced Friday that they also plan to remove Smith's "Smith Bless America" ​​record from their library. They say that several other songs performed by Smith "contain offensive words that do not reflect our values ​​as an organization".

The New York Daily News announced that the Yankees had suspended the use of Smith's recording during the seventh inning amid conflicting badertions about many of his songs, including a 1939 song entitled "That's why darkness was born". "The scandals of George White" and was considered a satire at the time. Smith's resemblance also appears in a 1939 advertisement that heavily uses the mammal caricature, one of the most well-known racist representations of black women.

Smith died in 1986.

Smith's relationship with the Flyers began in 1969 when a member of the team ordered that his version of "God Bless America" ​​be interpreted instead of "The Star Spangled Banner". She encouraged her to play the song several times before the games of the 1970s.

The Yankees used his recording of "God Bless America" ​​and sometimes singers in the seventh round since September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. They used his version twice this season and mainly played an organ version.

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