“Strange Fruit” is a haunting song made famous by Billie Holiday in 1939. The lyrics describe the horrific lynching of African Americans in the Southern United States. The imagery of “strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees” paints a gruesome picture of black bodies swaying in the breeze. Holiday’s emotional delivery of the song combined with the powerful lyrics made it a powerful protest anthem against racism and violence.
The song was written by Abel Meeropol, a Jewish schoolteacher from the Bronx who was inspired by a photograph of a lynching. He wrote the poem that would later become “Strange Fruit” under the pseudonym Lewis Allan. Meeropol’s words struck a chord with Holiday, who made the song her own and performed it regularly in her concerts.
“Strange Fruit” stands as a chilling reminder of America’s dark history of racial violence and discrimination. It serves as a powerful reminder of the need for justice and equality for all. Holiday’s rendition of the song remains a powerful testament to the struggle for civil rights and the ongoing fight against racism.
Image by Ai Junkie
