“Strange Fruit” is a powerful and haunting song that addresses the horrific reality of lynching in the Southern United States. Originally written as a poem by Abel Meeropol in 1937 and famously recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of the brutal and inhumane practice of hanging African Americans from trees as a means of racial terror and control.
The song’s imagery of “strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees” evokes a sense of shock and disgust at the violence and injustice that Black people faced during this time. The lyrics describe the twisted and grotesque sight of bodies swaying in the breeze, symbolizing the dehumanization and degradation of Black lives in America.
Through its poignant words and haunting melody, “Strange Fruit” forces listeners to confront the brutal legacy of racism and violence that has plagued the country for centuries. It remains a potent reminder of the atrocities committed against African Americans and a call to never forget the past in order to work towards a more just and equitable future.
Image by Ai Junkie
