Rosy Glow – Monumental Lesson

By

Andrew DeMarco

Recently, both the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Flyers have decided to no longer play the Kate Smith version of “God Bless America.”  The Flyers even went so far as to cover and later remove a statue which they had dedicated to her some years ago outside their arena. Their reasoning is that Ms. Smith sang and recorded some songs over 80 years ago which today and even back then can be considered racist. One song from 1933 titled “Pickaninny Heaven,” asks colored children living in an orphanage to dream about a magical place of great big watermelons. The other song, “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” adds a bit of a twist to the story since that song was also covered by African-American singer and activist of that time Paul Robeson which was often omitted in this story and is a lesson in of itself.

I’m not here to argue whether Ms. Smith and Mr. Robeson are racist. I’m here to discuss how both teams missed a teachable moment and how far political correctness has gone in dividing this country. I would like to know how this issue can arise with someone who has been dead for over 30 years and cannot defend their intentions? Instead, we should look at that time and see how we have progressed from the 1930’s regarding these issues. This is where we learn from it but no one seems to take the time to discuss this aspect and maybe even find ways to improve even more.

This issue also reminded me of people wanting to bring down monuments which they find offensive instead of learning from them and history. It reminded me of Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. For those of you who are not familiar with Monument Ave. it is a beautiful tree lined road with an esplanade running down the middle. What makes this road unique are the six monuments which occupy the esplanade at various points along the avenue. Five of these monuments are dedicated to heroes of the Confederacy, after all Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy, and nowadays it is a miracle they are still standing. Most of the monuments  are people you would know beginning at the east end and going west they are dedicated to General J.E.B. Stuart, General Robert E. Lee, President Jefferson Davis, General Stonewall Jackson and Matthew Fontaine Maury. All sons of the South and the Confederacy and by today’s standards would all be considered traitors and are all symbols of slavery and racism even though at their time, which I am sorry to say was considered the norm. So, you may be asking, “So where is this teachable moment?”

That moment lies in the sixth and final monument and the one that is the newest. It is not dedicated to a hero of the Confederacy but he is a Son of the South, a Richmond native and unlike the other five, he was a winner, a true champion and unlike the others he is an African-American. That monument is dedicated to Arthur Ashe.

Arthur Ashe was the winner at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the Australian Open and at one time the #1 ranked tennis player in the world. The same Arthur Ashe who got his start on the black only tennis courts of Richmond. Looking down Monument Ave, we can see a time line of over 150 years and we can also see how we have progressed and how standards and the way of life of over those 150 years ago are not the same. How people and a country’s morals and values change and how we can learn from this change. If not for what happened during the Civil War and all those who gave their lives to abolish slavery and preserve the Union, where would we be today? I don’t think anyone would have imagined ever seeing a monument to an African American on this road.  That is how we learn. If we cover up these monuments or tear them down how are we to remember and learn?

Our history is what it is, some can and will embellish it, but history cannot be blacked out, white washed or changed. Once we realize this and start learning from it, we will make ourselves and our lives better and that gives me that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…Rosy Glow!