The Yankees have suspended the use of Kate Smith’s recording of “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch while they investigate an allegation of racism against the singer.
The New York Daily News reported Thursday there are conflicting claims about Smith’s 1939 song “That’s Why Darkies Were Born.” The song originated in the 1931 Broadway revue “George White’s Scandals,” and was considered satire. It was recorded by Smith and also by Paul Robeson, who was black.
The team said in a statement: “The Yankees have been made aware of a recording that had been previously unknown to us and decided to immediately and carefully review this new information. The Yankees take social, racial and cultural insensitivities very seriously. And while no final conclusions have been made, we are erring on the side of sensitivity.”
Smith died in 1986. The Yankees have used her recording of “God Bless America” and sometimes live singers during the seventh inning since the 2001 terrorist attacks. They used an organ version Wednesday and Thursday.
(AP)
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3 Responses
This is consistent with the current fad of rewriting history by declaring someone an “unperson” if he/she did something that offends today’s leftists, even if the action was in line with the attitudes of that time.
in the early years of this country, even the presidents had black slaves. So should we re-write early American history to reflect our current social sentiments.
Take Geo. Washington off of the dollar bill; he had slaves. What about Jefferson etc, all had slaves.
Rather America is getting stupider and dumber as they try to be so politically correct and even give parent status to perverts to pervert adopted children….
PC Dummycrat insanity!