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.
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?
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.'"
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.
@saywhat25; @jeanielorraine/Bluesky
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