MISSION: The mission of Strange Fruit is to bring people together by connecting African American artists with the community through their innovative, unique, art during exhibits, artist meet & greet events, and art education (including art as therapy). In turn, artists share their gift and love of art by educating other art enthusiasts from beginner to advanced classes, and pop up events which will enrich and contribute to the economic development of the community.
Inspiration
The inspiration of Strange Fruit as an African American Arts Center was born as a nod to the many black men, women, and children who were killed as a result of lynching. The song, Strange Fruit, written by Abel Meeropol in 1937 and made popular through the unique voice of the legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday, represents the horrific lynching of black people in the American South during the early 1900’s. The song exposed the harsh brutality and dirty little secret of racism in America.
Artist Andra Day brought this story to life in her remarkable portrayal of the songstress in the movie The United States vs Billie Holiday. The lyrics, vividly etched in my memory, described as “black bodies swingin in the Southern breeze.” While difficult to erase the disturbing images, my hope is that Strange Fruit inspires the most magnificent celebration of black excellence through art expression and implants a new image of Strange Fruit.
Changing the Narrative…
In stark contrast to the metaphor of the song, our intent is to change the narrative of Strange Fruit by elevating black artists in a vastly different manner. One that does not include a noose; rather, lifting them up in support by creating awareness and exposure to the expression of African American art. Today, Strange Fruit will take on a beautiful positive meaning. Instead of crowds of white men gathered to gloat with smiling faces, surrounding the charred and mutilated bodies of black men after a fresh community-attended lynching (see photos), crowds of all races will gather with us to celebrate the magnetic, electrifying energy creating black magic as expressed in the artworks of African American artists.
Strange Fruit – The Lyrics
History of Strange Fruit the Lyrics – Strange Fruit actually began as a poem written in 1937 by Abel Meeropol, a Russian/Jewish immigrant, poet and teacher at the DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx. When asked why he wrote Strange Fruit, he responded “I wrote Strange Fruit because I hate lynching, and I hate injustice, and I hate the people who perpetuate it,” Meeropol said in 1971.
Southern trees bear a strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swingin’ in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulgin’ eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burnin’ flesh
For the rain to gather
For the wind to suck
For the sun to rot
For the tree to drop
For Here is a strange and bitter crop