Yankees Drop Kate Smith's Version of 'God Bless America' Because People Were Racist in the 1930s

This is a tricky one, but is worth examining:

Yankees drop Kate Smith’s "God Bless America" after questions of possible racism arise https://t.co/mbDdQ5OrgT— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 19, 2019

From The Washington Post:

The New York Yankees reportedly confirmed Thursday that they were no longer playing a Kate Smith version of “God Bless America” during the seventh inning of home games, after the team learned of a Depression-era song she’d recorded that raised questions of possible racism.

Two songs cited by the New York Daily News, which broke the story, included “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” a 1931 hit for Smith, and “Pickaninny Heaven.” Smith’s 1939 version of “God Bless America” had been in the rotation at Yankee Stadium since the team began regularly playing the song following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

Are those song titles offensive?

Oh yeah.

Can they be excused merely because of context?

Not really.

Still, it isn't exactly a closely-guarded secret that America in the 1930s had a lot going on in regard to race that we now find horrifying. The Yankees have been playing this song since 2001 and no one was flooding their front office with complaints about Kate Smith's (who has been dead for over thirty years, by the way) racism.

I would wager that's because almost every American over the age of five in 2019 knows that the country has a most troubled past when it comes to race.

(Gee this sounds familiar. Saul Alinsky”s Doctrine: 8 steps to topple a nation and create a socialist state)

(Listen to the words, this HOPE...) is needed today as much as when Kate sang it.

Who are these people who are tearing down our history for silly reasons...thanks to those who failed our teachers with fake history, fake text books, propaganda about America, Capitalism, diversity without assimilation,

(Saul Alinsky's 8 steps to socialism....) this is what Bernie Sanders, Omar, AOC, Pressley etc. are really talking about...Bernie is old enough to know Socialism removes God from our schools, government, freedom, patriotism and love of country. We are just about there because of Marxist/Alinsky foothold in our government....Freedom Isn't Free...you have got to fight for it 24/7.

This country has made a remarkable change in its culture as through the ages it has assimilated a race of people into every facet of national and cultural life. Their advances in all fields have been significant and if you look at how it came about it has little to do with the black man’s efforts. It is the white man who has deliberately opened every area once closed. And not just invited the black man in but also trained and prepared the black man to become successful. Don’t put this nation down for it has done a magnificent job in making the ground level for all persons regardless of race, color or gender.

What is racist about this? They might as well get rid of 98% of songs, poetry and various biblical writings.

That's Why Darkies Were Born (Remastered)

Someone had to pick the cotton,
Someone had to pick the corn,
Someone had to slave and be able to sing,
That's why darkies were born;

Someone had to laugh at trouble,
Though he was tired and worn,
Had to be contented with any old thing,
That's why darkies were born;

> Sing, sing, sing when you're weary and
Sing when you're blue,
Sing, sing, that's what you taught
All the white folks to do;

Someone had to fight the Devil,
Shout about Gabriel's Horn,
Someone had to stoke the train
That would bring God's children to green pastures,
That's why darkies were born.

Credits Writer(s): RAY HENDERSON, LEW BROWN Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com Link

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