Kate Smith’s family said they are “heartbroken” that the Yankees and Flyers distanced themselves from the “God Bless America Singer” after learning she sang two racially insensitive songs in the 1930s.
Smith’s niece, Suzy Andron, and her husband Bob told USA Today Sports on Saturday night that they were surprised and upset by the recent stories that cast the late singer as racist for performing two songs entitled “That’s Why Darkies Were Born” and “Pickaninnies’ Heaven” in the early 1930s.
Both songs contain racist language and references, though the former has been characterized as satire.