1) Cannot wait for the sports radio #taeks on this
2) The song was co-recorded by Paul Robeson, which is an incredibly interesting aspect of this. Robeson is known for his civil activism.

It's almost as though social norms in the 1930s were different or something.

ok that looks less racist now

The duet was past it's expiration date but this shouldn't have been the reason to move on.

BigEd76 wrote:

Is that Abu Gharib?

Napalm wrote:ok that looks less racist now

haha

Grotewold wrote:

Napalm wrote:ok that looks less racist now

haha

Should have used a white cloth.

PSUsarge wrote:1) Cannot wait for the sports radio #taeks on this
2) The song was co-recorded by Paul Robeson, which is an incredibly interesting aspect of this. Robeson is known for his civil activism.

Written, that is to say created, by Lew Brown and Ray Henderson, who between them or together also wrote Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree, Button Up Your Overcoat, Bye, Bye, Blackbird, You're the Cream in my Coffee and the Best things in Life are Free. I sincerely hope we'll be going after anyone who ever sang these tunes and that they will expunged form to american songbook.

The song was a huge hit, as surprise, surprise, 1931 had little trouble with casual racism. Though actually if you look at the lyrics (while they're certainly paternalistic coming from a Russian Jewish immigrant), they're overwhelmingly both sympathetic and point in the direction of injustice, if avoiding a call for outright change or indignation..

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;
Someone had to laugh at trouble
Though he was tired and worn
Had to be contented with any old thing
That's why darkies were born;
Sing, sing, sing when you're weary and
Sing when you're blue
Sing, sing, that's what you taught
All the white folks to do;
Someone had to fight the Devil
Shout about Gabriel's Horn
Someone had to stoke the train
That would bring God's children to green pastures
That's why darkies were born

let's be clear, though, I was freaking sick of the Yankees playing God Bless america

They only play her during big games in playoffs right?

Not seeing what’s lost here.

They have to remove a statue so that's lost.

Think you missed my joke. That said, no brainer to take it down. It’s the right thing to do.

Ignoring this controversy for a second, it's weird that there's a statue of her there in the first place.

Slowhand wrote:Ignoring this controversy for a second, it's weird that there's a statue of her there in the first place.

Agreed. Also, now we don't have to hear the terrible duet with Lauren Hart. Or did they stop those already?

Slowhand wrote:Ignoring this controversy for a second, it's weird that there's a statue of her there in the first place.

it's been there since 1987. different times.

ReadingPhilly wrote:

Slowhand wrote:Ignoring this controversy for a second, it's weird that there's a statue of her there in the first place.

it's been there since 1987. different times.

Cold War was quite testing.

Slowhand wrote:Ignoring this controversy for a second, it's weird that there's a statue of her there in the first place.

I feel like you couldn't pick Kate Smith out of a lineup.

swishnicholson wrote:

Slowhand wrote:Ignoring this controversy for a second, it's weird that there's a statue of her there in the first place.

I feel like you couldn't pick Kate Smith out of a lineup.

True

I just think it's an odd choice to put a statue of a singer up in front of a sports arena because she sang that gets played there.

Slowhand wrote:

swishnicholson wrote:

Slowhand wrote:Ignoring this controversy for a second, it's weird that there's a statue of her there in the first place.

I feel like you couldn't pick Kate Smith out of a lineup.

True

I just think it's an odd choice to put a statue of a singer up in front of a sports arena because she sang that gets played there.

You had to be there.