It’s from the 1930’s so that should be taken in to account…

[A Cringeworthy Vocal Of Pickannies Heaven By Kate SmithLow,506×360 – YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3tqZ3ohnjg)

I don’t understand why it’s considered cringeworthy. I don’t think it was for that time frame.

Edit: She was very iconic. Here she is in the 70s. At the Stanley Cup. Just to give you a reference point.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pZ1brENIjw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pZ1brENIjw)

[View Poll](https://www.reddit.com/poll/xnb6rk)

4 comments

  1. To make that determination it would be important to understand the context/the text of the song. Do non-americans understand what a “pickananny” or a “mammy” is and how that kind of language/trope etc has been used in america? Do non-americans understand the racism that existed in america at that time, the laws and norms of that time that perpetuated black poverty? Etc.

    Im curious to know, why are you interested in a non-americans persepctive, and why choose the poland subreddit for this poll rather than a diff country?

  2. The song is quite racist. It’s a product of its time, of course, but that’s the thing, at that time racism was a cultural norm. I don’t think Kate Smith was intentionally racist or mean while singing that song, she’s just a singer. But I guess being habitually racist is a thing, and trying to be kind doesn’t exempt you from that.

  3. Try changing the lyrics to make them about heaven for little jews living in a camp and then let me know if it’s racist.

  4. you cant look at stuff and label them racist or not through todays views…

    Song doesn’t seem to be painting black ppl in a bad light and just going through the comments pickananny was a term made up by ppl from the west indies and was applied to children… however now its offensive i guess?

    The watermelon stereotype ppl forget that before it became racist it literally symbolized self sufficiency in the African American community.. in term southern white ppl didnt like that so they turned it into a poor ppls food per say…. basically the reverse of what happen to the lobster- use to be eaten only by poor ppl and became a status symbol…

    Think ppl need to stop trying to worry about what happen in the past and try and label it racist or not you cant compare the times etc with that of today considering times change, for example the term muzyn in polish is now trying ot make its way to the “m” word due to lack of “n” word..

    Context matters regardless of time period and it seems like this song was made in good intention not a racist anthem or somthing

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