The tradition of hearing Kate Smith perform “God Bless America” won’t end in one popular New Jersey beach town, despite moves by the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Yankees to distance themselves from the late singer over racist lyrics.
That’s according to Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano, who said the customary 11 a.m. daily broadcast on the town’s beach and boardwalk will continue regardless of the controversy involving some of Smith’s songs, including a 1939 performance of a song titled “That’s Why Darkies Were Born.”
“We’re playing [‘God Bless America’] because it’s a great song and a great rendition of that song,” Troiano told the Cherry Hill Courier-Post. “If protesters are coming in and calling me a racist, they’re welcome to do that.”
The moves by the Flyers and the Yankees to stop broadcasting Smith’s version of “God Bless America” during games — as well the removal of Smith’s statue outside the Flyers’ arena — were overreactions to lyrics from 80 years ago that matched the “sentiment of the day,” Troiano said.
“Was it wrong?” he continued. “It absolutely was. It was a different world. We changed history, we changed how we treat people. Let it be a lesson of the ignorance of another time.”
Troiano, who could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday, said he was unsure of how his views would be received by the public, but insisted the Jersey Shore town is a place for visitors of all backgrounds.
“We’re an urban community as opposed to some of the beach resorts,” he continued. “On any given night, we have 50 to 60 cultures represented on the boardwalk, all having fun.”
If anyone doesn’t want to hear Smith’s rendition of “God Bless America,” Troiano said, beach-goers have options.
“If you don’t want to hear it, if it offends you, it’s your choice,” he continued. “There might be people who say, ‘I’m going to Wildwood because they support their veterans’ and there might be those who say, ‘I’m not coming because it offends me.’”
Troiano insisted that the decision is “not being disrespectful to anybody,” but rather about keeping what’s already in place.
“Everyone needs to take a deep breath and stop being so touchy,” Troiano told the Courier-Post. “We’re about having a good time. Forget the political crap and enjoy the beach.”