Meaning of “Pickaninny Heaven” by Kate Smith
This song is based on Kate Smith addressing a group of African-American children, specifically orphans. It was featured in the 1933 film Hello, Everybody!, in which Smith starred. During the track, she is basically encouraging these orphans to fantasize about what she perceives as an ideal – albeit racist – afterlife for them which she refers to as “Pickaninny Heaven”. Indeed the word pickaninny itself is actually a word that has been used as a racial slur against Black children at least since the 19th century.
As such, the track begins with Kate Smith recounting a “tale” to the “little pickaninnies” “of a place” that’s “twice as high as the moon” which is accessible via “a balloon”. This is a site that only “all the good little pickaninnies” are sent to.
Second Verse
In the second verse, Smith states that she herself has “just been there”, thus giving her firsthand knowledge of the going-ons in Pickaninny Heaven. And according to her witness, “great big watermelons roll around and get in your way”. Also there are “bushes” comprised of “luscious pork chop(s)” which “bloom right outside your door”. These references, specifically to watermelons, are founded in racist American stereotypes. And with such otherworldly benefits being so easily-available to these Black children, Mrs. Smith has concluded that this fantastical realm is indeed a “pickaninny heaven”.
Moreover in terms of her addressing the orphans directly, she states that their dead mothers who “the good Lord took” “will be waiting for (them)” in Pickaninny Heaven. As such, it can be clearly seen that in this track she is referring to the afterlife.
Was Kate Smith really being racist?
Overall there is no reason to believe that Kate Smith was not racist or in the very least a product of her time. But she is not here to defend herself, and for all we know she may have thought she was doing a service – albeit an unintelligent one – to Black (orphan) children via “Pickaninny Heaven”. However, this does not negate the fact that the song has outlived its comedic effect and in modern-day America has come to tarnish her image as a musical icon.
Summary: This song is about a fictional “heaven” for “pickaninnies”, a racist term from the Jim Crow era used to describe African-American children.
Facts about “Pickaninny Heaven”
- Rediscovery of this song in April of 2019 led to the Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees to stop playing Kate Smith’s rendition of “God Bless America”, which they had been using since 2001.
- In response to “Pickaninny Heaven” coming into the spotlight in 2019, the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers also removed “God Bless America” from their playlist in addition to covering a statue of Kate Smith, who has long been associated with the organization, near their home arena.
- Kate Smith sang “Pickaninny Heaven” in the 1933 film Hello, Everybody! The scene in which it was featured contained a group of Black children who listened attentively to her.
- In her heyday, Kate Smith was very-influential, as according to the New York Times, during 1933 (the same year “Pickaninny Heaven” was released), Mrs. Smith was “the most listened to person on the airwaves”.
- Overall the imagery associated with “Pickaninny Heaven” used by Kate Smith has been dubbed by the New York Daily News, who broke the story on 18 April 2019, as “startlingly racist”.
You critics are crying over something that was not meant to be considered racist at the time Kate Smith sang it. It was just considered a novelity song with no degradation to anyone. I guarantee there was never any meant
racism in anything thatbKate Smith did. She was more American than any critics of today. Uncover her statue for her love of America.
I wish someone would listen! That’s how it was, not how it is. Why bring it up causing problems that were never intended!
We have become politically correct to the point of erasing parts of history, both bad and good. The current upset over “G-d bless America” is much akin to any art form being banned over the perceived prejudices of the artist. In the process we end up limiting access to something valuable.
Richard Wagner was well known to be anti Semitic. Yet his music is genius. Although I am Jewish I still listen to and enjoy his music.
Pete Rose played baseball better than most others whom already have been granted entry into The Baseball Hall of Fame. But, his societal failings have cost him and also his admirers the opportunity to give him the recognition he deserved.
I don’t know whether Kate Smith was truly a racist or not. Clearly she sang a terribly bigoted song which is sickening to read about. America has evolved to be more and more inclusive. At least we’re heading in the right direction.
You have a very good point, Mitch.
No, Mitch. Pete Rose is banned from baseball because he broke THE RULE you do not break. It has nothing—absolutely nothing—to do with “his societal failings.” He bet on baseball. The rule he broke was no secret. It’s posted in every MLB clubhouse.
Also, nobody’s upset with God Bless America. They’re upset over That’s Why Darkies Were Born and Pickaninny Heaven.
Maybe she was racist. Maybe she wasn’t. We don’t know. But if I owned the team or that arena, I wouldn’t want her statue out front either. Not ever learning this. It’s not erasing history. It’s choosing to not celebrate her anymore.
Yes. The standard tactic of the alt-right. “I can say it, because I play a minority on the internet.”
Mitch: The Flyers likely considered the shaming effect on their (many) black fans of seeing Smith honored at every home game — not only with part of her playlist, but with the statue. Every time you and your family come to the ballpark, you get a little something rubbed in your face. It’s very like all those old Confederate statues, which the then-dominant part of society may have meant no harm in erecting at the time (although that’s doubtful), but which shame and discomfit another segment today. On top of it, the Smith statue is rather amateurish and ugly. I lived through the days she was lionized in Philly. Good memories, but they belong in the past in the name of doing good today.
It was a different time back then, most colored folks were referred to as Neg*os and Colored’s as a norm. Today I guess black folks done forgot they were black because anyone tells them they are black they’re offended. Seriously stupid.
Black people are not offended by being called black. You’re spouting bs to prove some imaginary bs point.
you so confused sersiously confused and stupid
They are negr**s
It is for reasons like the ignorance you conveyed in your message that we know you and others like you don’t see yourself as racist when you are despite the follow-up that… “I have black friends”. Ni**er, Colored, Neg*o, Black are all words used to describe the race you speak of that was titled by Whites (like you)… look at the history of the Census if you need to be educated. I never understand how another ethnic group can think for us colored folks (that is what you called “us”) when you have NEVER walked in “our” shoes or lived “our” lives. So, what is seriously stupid is your ignorant and insensitive remark. Somethings are best left unspoken and kept in one’s thoughts if they do not want to be judged.
who cares…judge away….how is it you can call him a racial slur above and it is ok? That is racist and hypocritical.
There were no blacks on the Yankee team in 1933 when Kate Smith sang those songs. They didn’t protest at that time.
The NY Yankees are racist for keeping blacks from be hired until 1955. Why did it take so long after the Dodgers hired Jackie Robinson in 1947.
Lets not go to their games. They were just as racist as Kate Smith.
So someone has finally exposed that racist Kate Smith. It’s about time. All the while she was hiding behind the genius of the man who gave us “God Bless America”, “White Christmas”, “Easter Parade” and…and “Pickaninny Mose” (1915). – OMG – Does that mean we have to stop playing Irving Berlin’s songs as well”?
Then again, I suppose what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
By this cockamamie Marxist Left wing-nut reasoning, the centuries old and universally sung song, “AMAZING GRACE ” should, likewise be banned from the hearts, minds and lips of those who find comfort, solace and hope in its lyrics and melody. Why, you ask ? Simple !!! Because the words were written by John Newton, a once disgraced British seaman, turned slave trader , who did not totally disassociate himself from that odious trade until very late in life, and still years after he styled himself a minister and ” Man of God “. How is this man’s decades long of slave trading and late to life ” conversion to repentant sinner compare to Kate Smith’s singing two songs that were most probably her contractual obligation to sing ,… written by the team of Arthur Johnson and Sam Coslow, both of whom were noted songwriters of that era, and who are also inductees in the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970) . However, since Miss Smith did sing these two songs, along with Mr Paul Robeson, the great black ( or, ne*ro ?) baritone ,…and “Fellow Traveler ” , does nothing else in her life mitigate in her defense ? Not when the people who are doing the condemning avert their eyes, plug their ears and sghut their minds to any ” inconvenient truths ” that might serve to show her in any other light. To these modern day Politically Correct Maoist / Talibanistas, she is, plain and simple, no longer a woman of substance or good character, or the face and voice of the icon patriotic song, ” God Bless America “. Kate Smith has, in two felled swoops been vilified politicized and , like so many in the hands of the Hun ta, now she has been condemned and ” disappeared “.
As Saint Jean D’Arc uttered as her funeral pyre was lit by the torches of her accusers and condemners, she was said to ask them to ” Raise the crucifix higher so I might see it above the flames.”
I agree
Look, Kate was an actress playing a part. She did not write the songs. She did not produce that show. She was just on stage trying to make a living. I do not know if she was a racist or not. This is America, shouldn’t we give her memory the benefit of the doubt?
Look at the many actors and actresses who have done “black face”, how many of those have we banned or slighted because of it.
What about “Song of the South”? Have we closed Disney land and boycotted their films because of this movie?
I think this is getting out of hand! Remember this quote? “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Couldn’t these things be used to teach our child what not to do and explain why they are offensive?
Hey, how bout that Al Jolson….too bad there’s no statues of him to tear down
Some things to consider before labeling Kate Smith a racist:
1. “That’s why darkies were born” was from a hit Broadway musical review. Many singers recorded it, including Paul Robeson an African-American and Mildred Bailey a Native-American. It wasn’t considered racist at the time. It was trying to show the uplifting spirit of a race of people who had no way out of their lot in life, except through prayer and song, and how they teach us all how to get by in times of trial. At the time, the song was meant to be ennobling.
“Pickaninny Heaven” was a lullaby encouraging orphaned black children to believe in a special place in heaven where their mothers were waiting for them. The song was trying to be entertaining and comforting.
Of course, today these songs are considered shockingly racist, but at the time they were not.
2. Kate Smith sang and recorded many songs in her long career. These were only two songs recorded in the early 1930’s, several years before the novel Gone With The Wind was published, to put it in some historical context. These songs were of their time and didn’t remain in her repertoire. I wonder, does anyone know when she last sang them?
3. Times have changed and awareness and racial sensitivity has grown, thank God. But it wasn’t always so. For example, Old Man River, from Showboat (1927), has an introduction that originally started with the N word. “N*****s all work on the Mississippi”. Over time that was changed to “Darkies all work…”, then, a few years later, to “Colored folks work…”, then eventually to “Here we all work…”. As awareness and sensitivity to the use of those words grew, the words were changed, as they should have been, but does that mean we should now ban all of Jerome Kern’s music or Oscar Hammerstein’s lyrics or any singer associated with them? Of course not.
4. And last on my rant: Removing Kate Smith’s statue is NOT on a par with removing statues of Confederate generals who waged a bloody war to tear the United States apart in order to maintain a cherished way of life that included legalized slavery. In my humble opinion, those statues never should have gone up the first place, but Kate Smith sang a couple of songs in the early 1930’s when she was 24 years old, to entertain and uplift peoples hearts. There’s no way she could have foreseen that these songs would been viewed as racist or condescending when she sang them. She was ignorant of the effect these songs might have on listeners of color four or five generations later. Let’s’ not be ignorant now and condemn the memory and legacy of someone without first understanding the real facts of the situation.
You have spoken very well, Selfandi. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Kate Smith and this highly controversial song with the world. We really admire your last statement for its sheer depth. It makes a lot of sense. Greatly appreciated.
Excellent post.
There is only one way to deal with the so-called “racist” ditties of Kate Smith and others so long ago…and that is to laugh at them, like we laugh at the toothless old Na*i in “The Producers” as he does the goose-step on his rooftop and sings to his pigeons. Banning the songs, or reeling back in PC “horror” at them, only increases their power to hurt, which was never the original intention in the first place. Laugh at this stuff for what it is: crazy-stupid remnants of an early 20th Century caught on film, a time that is now long gone and not coming back any more than the horse and buggy is coming back.
You can watch Paul Robeson singing “De Li’l Pickaninny’s Gone To Sleep” and “That’s Why Da*kies Were Born” on YouTube!
How does one break a story on a well known song from 86 years ago?
Political correctness gone to far. POST THE F’N Lyrics and let people make up their own mind. Filthy lying media!
I don’t get it. Nobody hates Jolson
I am white and pickaninny heaven sounds like a good place to go. I am from the south and I eat pretty much whatever blacks eat down there. So it is kinda unnerving to me that the foods Kate or the songwriters think are the blacks food are the ones I like too. It is also weird that she has so many songs that are about blacks, does she really need to uplift them?, or is she using them as a stepping stones to get herself rich?
I bet when she sang these songs, black children in the south didn’t even hear them, they were poor like the white people and didn’t have radios.
I live in the south and I always refer to them , when necessary, as black people. But most of the time I address them as sir, maam, miss or. mr.
I think most people don’t listen to her today anyways. Lets just don’t bring it up and if people, like at the NHL stadium, have a statue there, I guess they should bring it down, cause I think she was racist and I think she was just another Yankee out to use people for her own enlightenment.