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Kate Smith's "God Bless America" is so well known around the country that most people attending a New York Yankees or Philadelphia Flyers game could probably mouth along word-for-word.
But now, it looks like Kate Smith is getting the boot after disturbing news has come forward about who she really was as a person.
"We have recently become aware that several songs performed by Kate Smith contain offensive lyrics that do not reflect our values as an organization," the Flyers said in a statement to CNN.
"Offensive," as the Flyers say, doesn't even begin to cover it. The lyrics in question are so offensive that they are even covering the statue of Kate Smith they erected outside of its arena.
Yankees pull plug on Kate Smith’s “God Bless America” over newly-surfaced, racist recordings. NOTE: Racism will NE… https://t.co/Fb2YMxBLid— Andrew Ramos (@Andrew Ramos)1555711959.0
Flyers say several of Smith's songs 'contain offensive lyrics that do not reflect our values' https://t.co/GrZpNZbDAS— Hockey Night in Canada (@Hockey Night in Canada)1555703126.0
Should the #Yankees & #Flyers permanently stop playing Kate Smith’s “God Bless America” because she recorded racist… https://t.co/nm51J7o31n— Steve Mason (@Steve Mason)1555707386.0
Flyers stop playing Kate Smith recording after racist songs come to light. https://t.co/qAdz4eIJCr https://t.co/eHMfNkmgze— theScore (@theScore)1555705800.0
One song, which is called "That's Why Darkies Were Born" (yes, SERIOUSLY) includes the lyrics:
"Someone had to pick the cotton,/ Someone had to plant the corn,/ Someone had to slave and be able to sing,/ That's why darkies were born."
Is your jaw on the floor yet?
“Most famously, Smith sang a 1931 song, “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” which opened: “Someone had to pick the cott… https://t.co/nV5vnQrlYB— Kevin McCashion 🇺🇸 (@Kevin McCashion 🇺🇸)1555672503.0
Kate Smith statue covered up outside Wells Fargo Center. Sports teams including @Flyers cutting ties to late singer… https://t.co/DBb7oAhFc6— Chris O'Connell (@Chris O'Connell)1555687305.0
Here is a racist and sexist ad for a Kate Smith recipe book from 1939. https://t.co/iiJ89yuYD2— Alex Silverman (@Alex Silverman)1555685398.0
So The Yankees Apparently Dropped Kate Smith Because She Sang Blatantly Racist Songs https://t.co/cwPt8c5RjY https://t.co/eoEwSfi1uJ— Kyle Scott (@Kyle Scott)1555641589.0
At the @NHLFlyers order a black drape with bungee cords (it’s windy) is trying to cover the statue of “God Bless… https://t.co/3Z1ZbuzPOd— Cleve Bryan CBS3 (@Cleve Bryan CBS3)1555688999.0
Then allow us to continue.
Pickaninny Heaven is a second offender, which "asks 'colored children' living in an orphanage to dream about a magical place with 'great big watermelons.'"
Yeah she was racist . https://t.co/nI91mhX54Z— NJFelix (@NJFelix)1555654303.0
The Yankees Stopped Playing Kate Smith's 'God Bless America' During the 7th Inning Stretch - Turns Out She Was a Bi… https://t.co/DI73xEVVse— Barstool Sports (@Barstool Sports)1555701661.0
Me: Wow, Kate Smith said sang some racist shit. Friend with MAGA brain worms: https://t.co/JeAPTnp0r3— Blake (@Blake)1555685375.0
The current push to why Kate Smith wasn't racist is... 🙄🙄🙄🙄 https://t.co/8uhEprSr0g— The One True Dave (@The One True Dave)1555684233.0
Finally. @desusnice and @THEKIDMERO brought up Kate Smith’s old racist songs on their podcast last year https://t.co/AcHWhEiUt0— Zunino Brown (@Zunino Brown)1555605464.0
#Flyers cover Kate Smith statue, dump ‘God Bless America’ over racist songs https://t.co/p7wcNBDhhg— Sam Carchidi (@Sam Carchidi)1555684414.0
Kate Smith was rightfully taken down by the Flyers for being a racist sack of shit, but the Flyers real poor taste… https://t.co/lKthAOiNZM— Tony (@Tony)1555680772.0
Finally no more Kate Smith. With all due respect she was racist! I read the history of her and for years been like… https://t.co/i1vTrPZO4X— tonedef311 (@tonedef311)1555634104.0
The Yankees released a statement saying they had "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."
As of right now, Kate Smith's version of the song has been replaced with other versions.