Mission
The mission of Strange Fruit is a beautiful and transformative initiative. By connecting African American artists with our community in such a direct, meaningful way, we are not only elevating the visibility of Black creativity but also fostering a space for connection, education, and economic empowerment.
Our focus on bringing people together through art exhibitions, artist meet-and-greets, and art education serves several important purposes:
1.Celebrating African American Art and Artists: By showcasing the innovative and unique art of African American creators, we are providing a platform for these artists to share their voices, stories, and visions. This is crucial in counteracting historical underrepresentation and marginalization of Black artists in the broader art world.
2. Creating Community Engagement: Art has a powerful ability to unite people across differences. Through exhibits and pop-up events, Strange Fruit helps build a sense of community where diverse audiences can come together to appreciate and learn from the works of African American artists. These events serve as spaces where cultural exchange happens organically, breaking down barriers and encouraging understanding. (insert picture of senior living facility painting party during black history month)
3. Art as Therapy and Education: The inclusion of art education—whether through formal classes, beginner to advanced art workshops, or art as therapy—provides valuable tools for both personal growth and community enrichment. Art has long been recognized as a healing force, allowing individuals to express emotions, process trauma, and find catharsis. Teaching art as therapy also promotes mental wellness and emotional resilience, something especially important for communities that have historically faced racial trauma.
4. Economic Development and Artist Support: By providing opportunities for artists to showcase and sell their work, Strange Fruit contributes to the economic development of the community. When local artists thrive, the entire community benefits, not just culturally, but also economically. Pop-up events, art markets, and collaborations create revenue streams for artists and stimulate local economies, while also ensuring that art remains accessible to everyone.
5. Encouraging Artistic Innovation: With a focus on showcasing the “gift and love” that artists have for their craft, we are helping to cultivate an environment where creativity is celebrated and new ideas can flourish. The exchange of knowledge between artists and community members creates a feedback loop of inspiration and growth, benefiting both established and emerging artists.
Through our mission, Strange Fruit becomes a vehicle for social change—transforming how African American art is perceived, valued, and celebrated. By offering education, encouraging creativity, and nurturing the economic and cultural richness of the community, our initiative helps shift the conversation from one of historical pain to one of pride, empowerment, and collective joy.
Inspiration
The inspiration behind Strange Fruit Arts Center is deeply rooted in honoring the memory of the countless Black men, women, and children who were tragically lynched and later referred to as “strange fruit” in the haunting lyrics of Billie Holiday’s iconic song. Originally written by Abel Meeropol in 1937 and brought to life by Holiday’s powerful voice, Strange Fruit shed light on the brutal reality of racial violence in the American South—a truth often silenced or ignored.
This harrowing piece of music became a chilling testament to the horrors of racism in America. More recently, artist Andra Day revived this painful history through her stirring portrayal of Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, giving new generations a glimpse into the courage it took to speak truth through art.
The lyrics—“Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze”—remain etched in my memory, a reminder of a past that must never be forgotten. Yet, through Strange Fruit Arts Center, my hope is to reclaim that imagery and transform it into something new: a vibrant, living tribute to Black excellence, resilience, and creativity. Through artistic expression, we seek to redefine “strange fruit” as a powerful symbol of beauty, brilliance, and boundless possibility.
Blood at the root
“Blood at the root” speaks to where we come from—a history full of pain, struggle, and survival. But out of that heavy past, something powerful has grown. From deep roots, Black visual art has bloomed.
We’ve taken what was meant to silence us and flipped it—turning pain into paint, trauma into texture, and history into color. Through murals, portraits, mixed media, photography, metalsmithing, and other mediums, Black artists are telling our stories in bold, brilliant ways.
The roots are real, and they run deep. But what’s growing from them? That’s magic. That’s power. That’s us—turning the past into something worth seeing, sharing, and celebrating.
Changing the Narrative…
In direct contrast to the haunting metaphor captured in the song, our mission at Strange Fruit Arts Center is to reclaim and redefine what “strange fruit” represents. No longer tethered to the imagery of a noose or rooted in brutality, we aim to uplift Black artists through celebration, visibility, and the unfiltered expression of African American art.
Strange Fruit will now stand as a symbol of intentional, powerful transformation. Where once there were crowds gathered in hatred—grinning faces posing before the horrific remains of Black lives lost—today, we invite communities of all backgrounds to come together in reverence, awe, and joy. Instead of bearing witness to violence, they will witness brilliance: the radiant, magnetic energy of Black creativity, powerfully expressed through art.
Through this shift in narrative, Strange Fruit becomes not a symbol of death, but a living, breathing tribute to Black excellence, resilience, and the boundless beauty of our culture.
Strange Fruit – The Lyrics
“Strange Fruit” originally started as a poem in 1937, penned by Abel Meeropol, a Russian-Jewish immigrant, poet, and teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx. When asked about the inspiration behind the poem, Meeropol explained in 1971, “I wrote Strange Fruit because I hate lynching, and I hate injustice, and I hate the people who perpetuate it.”
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