Today's MOZEN: Strange Fruit

Billie Holiday 

Moral justice has no time or color lines. It is a series of principles that guide (or, SHOULD) all human beings as we attempt to live fulfilling, righteous lives. It needs to be practiced by EVERYONE. It as a shared responsibility.

The song Strange Fruit is a classic example of how this can occur. 

In the 1950's, the tune was made a classic by Billie Holiday. The title and corresponding lyrics are a metaphor for the wanton and horrific lynching of African-American men, particularly in the South. The imagery conjured by the song, as interpreted and sung by Holiday, is one of pain and suffering which is unmistakable in the sound of her voice. It is both powerful and agonized as if the lyrics had seared her very soul. Listening to her interpretation is haunting - considering the topic, rightly so.

And, she paid the price for making it so real, so poignant. The US government relentless pursued her in an effort to make her stop singing it, eventually culminating in her absurd arrest and imprisonment.

However, what is little known is that Holiday didn't write the song. Neither did any other African-American. It was actually written by a Jewish teacher from the Bronx, Abel Meeropol.

Mr. Meeropol was also a member of the American Communist Party and wrote it in 1937 for a union publication**. Afterwards, he set it to music and drew the interest of Ms. Holiday. She picked it up some time later and made it her anthem of sorts. In an interesting side note, also indicative of Mr. Meeropol's arch of justice and social consciousness, was the fact that he and his wife adopted the children of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, the husband and wife who were the only Americans ever executed for espionage.

I believe the point is that ending racism is a collaborative effort. Although every individual is responsible to see to its eradication, no one single person has the power to end it. However, collectively we are force that cannot be denied. When we refuse as a society to accept racism and bigotry on ALL levels it will end. Until then, it is up to everyone to see that Strange Fruit never flourishes again.

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DGY9HvChXk

**“Strange Fruit” This anti-lynching poem was written by Abel Meeropol, a teacher, songwriter, and member of the American Communist Party. He published it in a union publication in 1937 and then set it to music. It was most famously performed by Billy Holiday, who first sang “Strange Fruit” in 1939. After the conviction and execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg for espionage in 1953, during the early Cold War, Abel Meeropol and his wife Anne adopted and raised the Rosenberg’s two sons, Michael and Robert. 

"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."