In her legendary style, Billie Holiday had plenty to “sing” about.
Originally a poem written by teacher and civil rights activist, Abel Meeropol, who later turned it into a song, “Strange Fruit” was performed by Billie Holiday for the first time in New York in 1939.
“It reminds me of how Pop died. But I have to keep singing it, not only because people ask for it, but because 20 years after Pop died, the things that killed him are still happening in the South.”
And in 2021, the killings are still happening.
Controversial because of its “inconvenient” truth about the lynching of Black bodies, “Strange Fruit” garnered Holiday much white rage. Whiteness did what whiteness does when one of us goes “too public” about our oppression.
When one of us is too popular.
When one of us is too influential.
When one of us is too effective at striking a blow at whiteness.
As actor and singer Andra Day so poignantly reminded us with that iconic line from her portrayal of Billie Holiday in the movie The United States vs. Billie Holiday,
“They don’t like the song because it reminds them that they’re killing us.”
According to Day, “Billie Holiday’s message was clear: ‘Stop fucking killing us.’”
Clear as “Day” from Andra Day about Lady Day. Triple Boom.
Here are the words of truth that whiteness “needed” to stop Billie Holiday from singing.
Strange Fruit
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
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather
For the wind to suck
For the sun to rot
For the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Lewis Allan
Strange Fruit lyrics © Edward B Marks Music Company, Marks Edward B. Music Corp.
*Listen to Black women in our own words in Blaxhaustion, Karens & Other Threats to Black Lives and Well-Being
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