The Yankees Stopped Playing Kate Smith's 'God Bless America' During the 7th Inning Stretch - Turns Out She Was a Big Racist
For 18 years, Yankee Stadium regularly used Kate Smith’s 1939 recording of “God Bless America” in the middle of the seventh inning. But they ditched it altogether this season, replacing Smith’s rendition with different versions of the song. Why? As the Daily News learned, the Yankees were made aware of Smith’s history of potential racism.
Smith was a famous singer before and during WWII who recorded the offensive jingle, “Pickaninny Heaven,” which she directed at “colored children” who should fantasize about an amazing place with “great big watermelons,” among other treats. She shot a video for that song that takes place in an orphanage for black children, and much of the imagery is startlingly racist. She also recorded, “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” which included the lyrics, “Someone had to pick the cotton. … That’s why darkies were born.”
If you’ve watched or listened to a Yankees game this year you probably noticed how in the middle of the 7th inning there is no more rendition of ‘God Bless America’ by Kate Smith. I always thought it was weak when they just played a recording instead of having someone actually singing it, but over the years it had become a staple at Yankee Stadium. Well, starting in 2019 there was no more Kate Smith. When you take something away like that, after years of it being a part of Yankees games, people will notice. We brought this up on The Short Porch and predicted they uncovered something from Kate’s past, like they seem to do with everyone these days who lived way back when. Well, we were spot on. Kate Smith was kind of a racist. Not great.
There’s a song she recorded during WWII called “Pickaninny Heaven” which is directed an African American children fantasizing about a nirvana with great big watermelons. There’s a music video for that song (I didn’t think they made those back then) where it’s shot in a black orphanage with imagery that is racist. Not great.
She also has a song called “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” that has the words, “Someone had to pick the cotton. … That’s why darkies were born.”
In the words of KFC and Feits, I have officially cancelled Kate Smith. Very racist. Bad news bears. The Yankees are very anti-racism. Couldn’t be more against it. Smell ya later Kate.