Break up the Yankees!
It was a refrain that was heard from time to time in the middle of the last century. The New York Yankees were the best team in Major League Baseball (MLB) for a long time. From the time of Babe Ruth, through Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle and Maris they piled up American League pennants and World Championships in the House That Ruth Built, Yankee Stadium.
Now there may be a new reason to break up the Yankees.
The New York Yankees have become “woke” by taking the “bold” step of banning Kate Smith’s version of “God Bless America” from the 7th inning stretch. Why? Because, back in the 1930’s she recorded a couple of songs with racist lyrics at the behest of her record company. The Yankee management said that they are “aware of the sensitivity of such issues.”
“God Bless America” was written by the Russian-born Irving Berlin. It was popularized by Kate Smith. The song is a patriotic one that celebrates America’s many bounties. The Kate Smith version of the song was often used in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s as well as at labor rallies.
According to the Yankees and other “woke” progressives, the fact that Smith recorded these other racist songs almost 90 years ago is irrelevant. Racism is racism. This is inexcusable no matter how long ago it happened and no matter how different the social mores were. According to the progressive left, such activities can never be tolerated, let alone forgiven.
This approach ignores all the good that Kate Smith accomplished in her life. It ignores the millions that she helped to raise to support the war effort in the 1940’s. It ignores all her other contributions which resulted in President Reagan recognizing her in 1982 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It ignores the good that was accomplished from the proceeds of record sales from God Bless America that were donated to many worthy non-profits, such as, the Boys and Girls Scouts of America.
Since the Yankees have taken this position that “racism is racism” and must be erased from history, then I propose that the Yankees be broken up. The Yankee name must be erased from every location, every piece of memorabilia, etc. Why? Because prior to 1955 the Yankees denied black players the opportunity to play for them because of their skin color. There is no more blatant example of racism than making decisions based on a person’s skin color. The Yankees were also one of the last MLB teams to field a black player.
The franchise should be sold and the monies received should not go to the present owners since the foundation of the franchise was built on racism. Instead, the monies should be distributed as reparations to those black players who were denied the opportunity to participate in MLB because of their skin color.
While we are at it, the other 15 franchises that existed prior to the expansion of MLB should also suffer the same fate. This includes the Dodgers who broke the color line in 1946 with the signing of Jackie Robinson. It is commendable that the Dodgers under Branch Rickey chose to do this. However, good deeds cannot erase what happened before. So the Dodgers must go as well.
Obviously none of this is going to happen. And it shouldn’t. Perhaps the “unwoke” Yankee fan base should express their displeasure to the cowards who reside in the Yankee management structure. I understand that they have done so at least once during the 7th inning stretch.
The greatness that is America lies not in the fact that America or anyone in the country is perfect. The last one to walk this earth who was perfect died more than 2000 years ago. America’s greatness lies in the fact that America, sometimes exceedingly slowly, recognizes its faults and moves forward to correct them. Erasing these faults from history does no one any good.
Enjoy this version of the song sung by Kate Smith.