Hello, everybody!
They say you get only one chance to make a good first impression.
But you have unlimited chances to correct a mistake.
I’m humbly asking you to correct the mistake you made about me.
In 2019, I believe the Philadelphia Flyers management panicked and banned their good-luck charm — me — on the tissue-thin accusation that I was “racist.”
Even though I died in 1986, fellas, that hurt. How would you feel to be called a racist and turned into an outcast? Betrayed and canceled by your friends.
What was the evidence against me?
Ninety years earlier I sang two songs — two out of 3,000 I recorded — that were racist. I admit it now, although I didn’t see it then. The songs were “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” and “Pickaninny Heaven.”
After someone emailed the New York Yankees that I had recorded the songs, the Yankees immediately banned my 1939 rendition of “God Bless America” that had been played during the 7th inning stretch, starting after 9/11. Using my song that way gave this country girl a thrill because everyone knows how patriotic I was, how I loved our great country.
Almost immediately, the Flyers overreacted, if you don’t mind me saying so, and my team canceled my version of “God Bless America.” More shamefully, after a “review,” they said, the statue of me that was placed outside the Spectrum in 1989 was wrapped in ugly black tarp, and then carted away, as if I were some traitorous Confederate general. It was humiliating.
Me, who had been given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan, for my charitable, wartime fund-raising, and performing activities. Canceled. Shunned. Excommunicated.
Neither the Yankees nor the Flyers were interested in hearing a defense of who many called the First Lady of Radio. I was convicted by an accusation alone.
Both teams made mandatory remarks, with the Flyers saying hockey was for “everyone” and the Yankees stating it takes “social, racial, and cultural insensitivity very seriously.”
I’m not looking for a fight here, but the Yankees played for 54 years before hiring its first African-American player, Elston Howard. That was eight years after the Brooklyn Dodgers broke the racist color line by hiring Jackie Robinson. Twelve other teams signed Black players before the Bronx Bombers got around to it.
I’m sure the Yankees would complain that it isn’t fair to judge them today by their past. But isn’t that exactly what they did to me?
In a very nice April 30, 2019 open letter to me, Inquirer Flyers beat writer Sam Carchidi reported that the team said the songs I had recorded “are incompatible with the values of our organization.”
Then Carchidi opened the media guide and looked at photos of 114 people who were high level employees.
Every single one was white as snow, he reported.
Did I — or anyone else — call the Flyers racist? No.
The Yankees and the Flyers convicted me without a fair trial.
I am asking the new Flyers leadership to now listen to the defense.
Why now? At its 119th banquet on Jan. 17, the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Flyers’ 1974 Stanley Cup victory. I was a spiritual member of that team, and appeared in person to sing “God Bless America” before the title-clinching Game 6 against Boston. Yet the sports writers dared not mention my name, nor even play my song.
I’m not bragging when I tell you that when the Flyers played my song your record was 100 wins, 31 losses, 5 ties, including 3-1-0 when I sang it live at the Spectrum.
Just a few weeks ago, the Flyers organized a Legacy Tribute to original owner Ed Snider. His son Craig believes that if he were alive when these accusations were made, I would at least have been presumed innocent until proven guilty of the serious charge of racism. Any credible inquiry into my life and work, had it been undertaken, would reveal the truth—that my public and private life were dedicated to promoting the shared American values of respect and tolerance for all people—regardless of race, religion or creed.
This would be the perfect time to correct the mistake, before the 50th anniversary of their second championship, in which many believed I played a small part.
I acknowledge the two songs appear to be racist. I also acknowledge my error in endorsing a “Mammy” style doll, along the lines of Aunt Jemima, in 1939. It was done out of ignorance, not hate.
That was the entire catalog of racial offenses. One doll, two songs out of a repertoire of 3,000. If you get out your calculator, you’ll see that is 0.0666666667% of my work.
For perspective, sports columnist Jeff Jacobs, who once covered the Flyers, wrote that African-American singer and civil rights activist Paul Robeson also recorded “Why Darkies Were Born,” considered by many to be a satire on racism.
In addition to outrage from the fans, several journalists wrote essays of protest, but the Flyers weren’t going to reverse themselves.
Not then, but it is never too late to correct a mistake.
And here is a good reason to reverse the decision.
I was not a racist. In fact, I believe by promoting Black talent, I was actually anti-racist.
I’m uncomfortable saying all that, but no one else has.
My proof is the long list of African-American artists I booked for both my very popular radio and then TV shows, even while racism was a strong force in America.
The Kate Smith Commemorative Society has the logs of performers and dates they appeared. Some played multiple dates.
Nobody else had a larger audience at that time, and nobody promoted African-American artists more than I did.
Guest African-American artists on radio
Molasses ‘n’ January (comics) 12/24/34.
Honeyboy and Sassafras (comics) 9/17/36.
Blackie Shackner (harmonica) 1/6/38.
Bill Robinson (dancer) 3/2/39.
Ethel Waters (dramatic reading) 12/6/40.
Count Basie (orchestra) 6/27/41; 11/18/43; 3/24/44; 4/14/44; 4/21/44; 4/28/44; 5/5/44; 5/19/44; 5/26/44; 12/3/44; 1/14/45; 1/25/45; 2/11/45; 5/6/45; 2/1/46; 2/8/46; 6/14/46.
Delta Rhythm Boys (vocal) 12/5/41; 3/10/44.
Anonymous Black Soloist (vocal) 6/26/44.
Kate & Juanita Hall Chorus 12/4/42.
Deep River Boys (vocal) 10/22/43; 11/5/43; 11/12/43; 1/21/44.
Ink Spots (vocal) 10/8/44; 3/25/45.
Duke Ellington Band 9/14/45.
Nat King Cole (vocal) 11/2/45.
Lionel Hampton (xylophone) 12/28/45.
Guest African-American artists on TV
The Meadowlarks (vocal) 11/2/50.
Louis Armstrong 11/8/50.
The Hotshots (tap dance) 11/21/50.
The Dunhills (tap dancers) 1/24/51; 4/25/51; 5/21/51; 11/8/51; 6/25/52; 12/9/52; 4/24/53; 1/11/54.
Stump & Stumpy (tap dance) 2/6/51.
Slam Stewart Trio (vocals) 2/7/51.
Buck & Bubbles (song and dance) 3/31/51; 10/24/51.
Herman Chittison Trio (vocal) 4/5/51.
Teddy Hale (bebop dance) 4/9/51; 9/25/61.
Count Basie Band 5/24/51; 2/1/60.
Delta Rhythm Boys (vocals) 6/8/51; 12/4/51; 11/18/52.
Duke Ellington Orchestra 6/14/51.
Billy Williams Quartet (vocal) 10/11/51.
The Charioteers (vocal quartet) 11/1/51; 4/17/52; 9/18/52; 10/7/53; 2/24/54.
George Kirby (comedian) 11/20/51; 12/15/52.
Harry Belafonte (folk) 12/5/51; 3/25/52.
The 4 Step Brothers (tap dance) 12/20/51; 12/19/52; 4/23/52; 1/23/53.
Deep River Boys (vocal) 12/28/51; 4/10/52; 1/7/53; 1/23/53; 1/28/53; 2/3/53; 2/10/53; 3/10/53; 4/29/53; 11/3/53; 1/11/54.
Clark Brothers (tap dance) 1/7/52; 5/16/52; 6/4/52; 12/3/52.
Derby Wilson (tap dance) 1/17/52.
Golden Gate Quartet (vocal) 2/5/52; 4/2/52; 10/10/52; 12/14/53.
Day, Dawn, Dusk (vocal) 2/28/52.
Leontyne Price (opera) 3/28/52.
Bunny Briggs (tap dance) 5/26/52; 11/21/52.
Josephine Baker (vocal, dance) 10/31/51.
Kay Thompson & William Brown (song and dance) 12/5/51.
Honi Coles & Chollie Atkins (tap dance) 9/9/52; 11/23/53.
The Ink Spots (vocal) 10/29/52.
Sugar Ray Robinson (boxer) 12/17/52.
Nicholas Brothers (tap dance) 2/13/53.
Billy Taylor Trio (jazz) 3/5/53; 10/20/55.
Cole & Atkins (tap dance) 3/16/53.
Eddie Heywood Trio (jazz) 3/27/53; 6/1/53; 4/19/54; 5/25/60.
Nat King Cole (vocal) 3/30/53.
King Odom Quartet (vocal) 4/2/53; 5/26/53; 9/28/53.
Blackburn Twins (song, dance) 5/20/53.
Unnamed Black couple (vocal) 10/19/53.
(This log was compiled by Richard K. Hayes, and maintained by Cynthia Hoffman.)
The TV list is considerably longer than the radio, and on TV there’s no question about the race of the performers. I think that’s an awfully long list of Black talent to be hired by someone who is called a racist.
But there’s more. There’s my historic 1945 address, that the Inquirer’s John Timpane called an impassioned attack on bigotry and racism, with me calling them “the diseases that eat away the fibers of peace” as millions listened. Here is his April 25, 2019 opinion piece.
He printed some of what I said:
It seems to me that faith in the decency of human beings is what we must have more of, if there is to be a future for all of us in this world. We read in the papers every day about conferences on the best way to keep the peace. Well, I’m not an expert on foreign affairs — and I don’t pretend to know all the complex things that will have to be done for a lasting peace. But I am a human being — and I do know something about people. I know that our statesmen — our armies of occupation — our military strategists — may all fail if the peoples of the world don’t learn to understand and tolerate each other.
Race hatreds — social prejudices — religious bigotry — they are the diseases that eat away the fibers of peace. Unless they are exterminated it’s inevitable that we will have another war. And where are they going to be exterminated? At a conference table in Geneva? Not by a long shot. In your own city — your church — your children’s school — perhaps in your own home.
You and I must do it – every father and mother in the world, every teacher, everyone who can rightfully call himself a human being. Yes, it seems to me that the one thing the peoples of the world have got to learn if we are ever to have a lasting peace, is — tolerance. Of what use will it be if the lights go on again all over the world — if they don’t go on … in our hearts.
Some 20,000 people requested printed copies, and newspapers across the nation ran passages as World War II drew to a conclusion.
Does that sound like it was written by a racist?
“Are the songs racist? Of course they are,” Timpane was told by Susan J. Douglas, a professor of communication studies at the University of Michigan and author of Listening: Radio and the American Imagination.
But using today’s standards to judge the past is unfair, as in the example I gave about the Yankees. Such unfair judgment has a name. It is called presentism.
“People don’t think about the historical context, and they don’t think about nuance at all. Without wishing to defend or advocate for Kate Smith, I’d point out that there’s a huge difference between the early 1930s and 1945,” said Douglas.
I know this sounds like bragging, but it is the truth. I won countless awards from civic, religious, social, patriotic, and ethnic groups during my 50-plus career, capped by the Medal of Freedom, which was one of the proudest moments of my life.
That is my defense. I would be happy if you put it to a jury — your fan base. Ask them if they want the Kate Smith statue returned, along with a plaque explaining the controversy, as was done with the George Washington house on Independence Mall, which once housed slaves.
It’s never too late to correct a mistake. It could help you in your efforts to reclaim all of the Flyers’ historic identity.
Thanks for listenin.’
Kate Smith
I stopped following the Flyers in 1996 after this happened, I may become a fan again when this is corrected. Too many pieces of history have been removed , all should be replaced just because they are a part of history. Like it or not. Most people are not historians ,or art majors. Just following bone head politicians like Jim Kenney, when he tried to take Christopher Columbus. We all saw how that played out. It is time to let people see the figures of History that have been removed.
Here are actual words of Kate Smith back in 1945 in a progressive magazine. These were not popular beliefs for a southern woman to make at that time. She was very pro civil rights for the day.
“It seems to me that faith in the decency of human beings is what we must have more of, if there is to be a future for all of us in this world. We read in the papers every day about conferences on the best way to keep the peace. Well, I’m not an expert on foreign affairs and I don’t pretend to know all the complex things that will have to be done for a lasting peace. But I am a human being and I do know something about people. I know that our statesmen our armies of occupation our military strategists – may all fail if the peoples of the world don’t learn to understand and tolerate each other.
Race hatreds – social prejudices – religious bigotry they are the diseases that eat away the fibers of peace. Unless they are exterminated it’s inevitable that we will have another war. And where are they going to be exterminated? At a conference table in Geneva? Not by a long shot. In your own city – your church – your children’s school perhaps in your own home.
You and I must do it every father and mother in the world, every teacher, everyone who can rightfully call himself a human being. Yes, it seems to me that the one thing the peoples of the world have got to learn if we are ever to have a lasting peace, is tolerance. Of what use will it be if the lights go on again all over the world – if they don’t go on… in our hearts.”
Kate Smith, “The Value of Tolerance,” quoted in Tune In, May 1945.
Stu, this is one of the best articles you have ever done here. 👏👏👏
Kate Smith continues to sing every morning on Wildwood’s boardwalk. God bless America!
Bravo Bravo Bravo
Thanks for your defense of Kate
It’s a shame it was needed at all
The Kate Smith decision is an illustration of boneheaded woke progressive poppycock at its finest.
Very entertaining piece, and a good portrait of overreaction in the modern world. This is the type of stuff that gives us liberal assholes a bad name. Because fact is, most of us would never support such poppycock. This is because we have a brain.
Oh Stu. There you go again. Busting up a convenient lie with facts.
“And the truth shall set you free.” Uh, everywhere but in Philadelphia it seems.
Love the article. Now do one from Pelle Lindbergh on why his number should be retired.
Powerful and informative.
I grew up with Kate Smith. I loved her size of stature and voice.
She is and should be remembered for her life and contributions to society.
Our world has become so out of sync with decency, faith and respect. It is not fair to judge past with present (values?). We have become more prejudiced than ever. Maybe we need to look at ourselves with some honesty and less judgement. “God bless America” before it is too late.
Thanks Stu,
Another example of “political correctness” that needs to be fixed.
Until than the “Broad Street Bullies”, and are the “Broad Street Wimps”
I agree 100%. How do we judge someone from the past on the everyone gets trophy standard of today. Well written and researched.
Thanks.
Thanks!! So well written and much needed. I’ve been waiting for someone to say this is the right time to bring her back etc etc. ✌️❤️👊
To the Philadelphia Flyers, you made a grave mistake, now you need to correct it. Be humble and admit your error to quickly jump on an ill fated bandwagon. It is never too late to do the right thing. Thak you Stu for sharing Kate/s letter.
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Thanks, Stu. This is so well presented and long overdue. I remember going to the hairdresser with my Mom and Kate for Kate to get ready for appearing live at the Spectrum. She was an elegant and admirable woman. Both of my parents would be horrified and ashamed to see what was done in removing her. The Flyers recently honored my father, Ed. They would honor him further by acknowledging that he would never have promoted a racist to be a significant part of the franchise. And he was always willing to admit his mistakes. It’s time for Comcast and the Flyers to do the same.
I hope they are listening, and thanks for your assistance.
Stu, well done, thank you.
Looking back at 2019 when this all happened, the Flyers were in transition after my dad’s passing. The current team, hired by Brian Roberts and led by Dan Hilfredy, is determined with Keith Jones and Danny Briere, to reclaim the best of the Flyers legacy, while forging a new identity.
Ed Snider was a fiercely loyal man, and I know he would understand the reasons why this mistake might have been during the transition, but it’s a new day. The team is exciting and exceeding all expectations. Even if her statue is not yet returned to its rightful place, Kate Smith is always in the room.
Stu’s post makes it clear that a true assessment of Kate Smith, with her unique commitment to promoting black artists, coupled for calls for racial tolerance was simply not a racist. Anything but. Full stop.
Thanks for the kind words and the support, Craig. Let’s hope the new people do the right thing.
Great research, great writing, totally persuasive facts=the truth. And the truth shall set us free-so hey Flyers Execs–resurrect Kate’s Statue and set her free to sing that beautiful song!!
Many thanks Kate and Stu!!!
God bless you for writing this, Stu. Ever since they removed Kate, the Flyers have suffered what I call the Kurse of Kate. She knew how wrong they were. She was deeply hurt by this so she took her revenge. Even Gritty has been unable to lift the Kurse. Only Kate can do that. She’s ready if the Flyers are. Put on your Big Boy pants, Flyers and do the right thing!
Kate Smith may be to the Flyers what the billy goat curse was to the Cubs.
Stu, I agree with you about Kate Smith… but don’t hold your breath, the same folks who own the Flyers also own MSNBC. You don’t need to be Fellini to figure this one out. God bless Kate and America from this madness.
I was a school teacher and fan of the Flyers. Loved their run in the early 1970’s! I also stopped following and watching when they removed the Kate Smith statue. We are talking a long time ago – late 30’s? At that time someone gave her a sheet of music and said, “sing this.” I was a high school Dean of Students (Disciplinarian) in the Princeton area for 25 years, and and always believed there was a “statute of limitations” when someone makes a mistake.
I agree with a statute of limitations.
Stu, a statue of limitations for mistakes should be based on the seriousness of the mistake and what ramifications were the results of the mistake.
Agree. I have even proposed a statute of limitations for deporting illegals. But for PC violations, of course.
Stu, Words can not describe how outstanding your Kate Smith article was. I was a season ticket holder when the Flyers won the Stanley Cup and saw Kate Smith sing live. In 1976, Kate Smith was the Guest of Honor when I was inducted as President of the Golden Slipper Club and Charities and she sat at our table with my wife and me. She was a delight to be with and I treasure the picture of us together.
Frank Brodsky
On balance, she did FAR more good than harm.
If the rules of “Cancel Culture” are to be applied consistently, Cher should be a target as well. In 1967 she and Sonny wrote and performed “The Beat Goes On.” In the song panhandlers are referred to as “Bums,” a term that (by today’s standards) is insulting and classist.
And many others…
Stu- excellent piece. Even Strom Thurmond managed to become racially enlightened. Ignorance has been corrected countless times. We are a country of second chances that is more and more becoming one of ” one strike and you’re out.” It is a problematic path, this cancel culture. Let’s hope that changes.
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Great article.Is there any way you or someone can organize a petition to Comcast to at least bring back the statue and admit they made a mistake.I still know many people who will never go to a Flyers game because of this.I was at the game when she sang live and Phil Esposito skated out of the Bruins bench and handed her a bouquet of roses.I guess he thought it would break her magic.Flyers won anyway.My parents told me all about her great efforts fundraising during WW2.She must have been a great lady who does not deserve the wokeness of cancel culture.
Alas, Rich, I am too low-tech to organize anything online, but I would support anyone who does.
This was a perfect example of the cancer of #PCIdiocy metastasizing. The problem with those who keep this plague festering is their complete ignorance (denial?) of context. Of course, by contemporary standards and philosophy, those songs are racist. But when they were recorded, for good or ill, they were not seen as racist by the majority of Americans. How they represented Black people was likely never even considered by white people `who heard them. Thus, to vilify her for simply performing her professional duties is abominable.
Kate Smith’s true colors (sorry) as described above not only exonerate her of any charges of “racism” but prove yet again that #PCIdiocy serves nothing and no one, except its humorless, clueless and petulant agents.
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Wow, great article!
stu, i have been a big fan of yours from your daily news and inquirer days. This has continued when i found this blog a few years ago. i think this might have been my favorite article of yours that i have read. What they have done to her was a disgrace and needs to be rectified. You laid out a defense of kate smith that Klein and Specter would marvel at. I hope and pray that this article is shared with some reasonable and influential people who have the guts to correct this miscarriage of justice. keep up the good work. thank you.
Thanks for hanging in a long time, and share this column to help out.