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The Yankees have decided to no longer run Kate Smith’s version of “God Bless America” during their seventh-inning stretch because of Smith’s affiliation with songs that carried racist lyrics. Most famously, Smith sang a 1931 song, “That’s Why Darkies Were Born,” which opened: “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.” The song, which has been called a satirical take on racism, was a big hit for Smith, and also was recorded by Paul Robeson. When the Yankees last month became aware...

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...

The Flyers are scrubbing connections with famed singer Kate Smith as the team investigates racist lyrics in several of her songs. That includes covering a bronze statue of Smith that stands outside Xfinity Live! and removing her iconic recording of “God Bless America” from their playlist. “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. "As we continue to look into this serious matter, we are removing Kate Smith’s recording of 'God Bless America’ from our library and covering...

The Yankees have taken a stand against racism for their seventh-inning stretch. 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 Yankee were made aware of Smith’s history of potential racism.

Kate Smith Sings God Bless America https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=kate+smith+god+bless+america&qpvt=kate+smith+god+bless+america&view=detail&mid=724669BA7D80E531A2DA724669BA7D80E531A2DA&&FORM=VRDGAR Ronal Reagan Honors Kate Smith with Medal of Freedom https://www4.bing.com/videos/search?q=text+ronald+reagan+honors+kate+smith&view=detail&mid=EDD4D8A20EB8C80843E6EDD4D8A20EB8C80843E6&FORM=VIRE The Ball Turret Gunner Nobody really wanted to be in a ball turret. This Plexiglas ball hanging from the bottom of the bomber was one of America’s latest innovations in warfare. An ingenious piece of machinery built by the Sperry Corporation, the ball turret was a heavily armed bubble just big enough to hold a grown man – but only on the small side. It had room for the gunner and its two fifty-caliber machine guns – and little else. The extremely cramped...

I grew up in a family of 11 children in the days before SUVs. So we took our road trips in two-car caravans led by a steamy station wagon with crank-handle windows and hot vinyl upholstery. That wagon was always packed with obstreperous kids singing obnoxious songs. But one song we were emphatically discouraged from singing has now emerged as a theme song for John Kerry's presidential campaign. My father loved popular music and never ceased being interested in it. In the 1960s, he happily escorted my older sisters to see the Beatles. A decade later, he bought me tickets...

"This is the original FIRST broadcast radio performance of God Bless America by Irving Berlin as introduced by Kate Smith on November 10, 1938. She later recreated it for the Warner Bros. film but this is the actual debut.

Ronald Reagan's appearance occurs at 4:21. I don't know what compelled me to stick to the very end of this somewhat overproduced 'God Bless America' tribute. I was waiting for the video to end and as the camera panned across the room, I nearly fell to the floor, an eerie chill went up and down my spine.It was the Gipper. I was dumbfounded. In all the years I've never come across the slightest reference of him appearing in the clip, quite surprising considering the pomp and pageantry in which he celebrates his jingoistic pride in America. The appearance of Ronald...

Taking You Back In Time. In early 1940, Kate Smith, a fiercely patriotic American, and the biggest star on radio, was deeply worried about her country. She asked Irving Berlin if he could give her a song that would re-ignite the spirit of American patriotism and faith. He said he had a song that he had written in 1917, but never used it. He said she could have it.

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