Strange Fruit

Lyrics to Strange Fruit

Southern trees bear strange fruit,Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is the fruit for the crows to pluck,For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,Here is a strange and bitter crop.

Answer the following question on your own paper:

1. What is the mood of this music?

2. Does the wording have any “secret message” or symbolic meaning?

3. Is there a message the song is trying to convey?

Go to this website to listen to a clip of Strange Fruit

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/strangefruit/film.html

Answer the following questions on your own paper.

Protection of American Citizens Pamphlet

4. What occurred when federal enforcement of the 14th Amendment stopped in 1877?5. Name three significant accomplishments of Bishop B.W. Arnett?6. What does Arnett mean by Jim Crow laws? (You might have to look this up).

Mob-Violence and Anarchy, North and South Pamphlet

7. Name thee offenses for which African Americans were lynched?8. What was the real purpose of the savage demonstrations toward Negros?9. For what is Ida B Wells best known for founding?10. In the photograph of George Meadows, the title given to him “murderer and rapist” is

significant because….

Use this website to answer the questions

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/97/crow/stseg.html

Strange FruitHave students discuss how Holiday's song, Strange Fruit, relates to what they have viewed. Answer the following questions on your paper:

11. Why were blacks lynched? 12. What reasons would people give to "justify" doing it? 13. What responses could blacks have to lynching? 14. What response did Billie Holiday choose? Why? 15. Do you think this was a safe thing for her to do? Why? 16. Did Strange Fruit have a good message? 17. Do you think it was effective?

These websites might be helpful in answering the above questions:

jimcrowhistory.org

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/strangefruit/film.html

Now it is your turn…

Music can help people express a range of feelings and topics. Music is also a great way to bring attention to a certain issue. For example Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. is often played on the 4th of July because people interpret it as a patriotic song when it was actually shaming Americans for how they treated Vietnam veterans when they came home from war.

Pick a song that was written to bring attention to a social issue or a historical event. You will analyze the song and answer questions on the worksheet your teacher gives you about the song. Make sure the song is school appropriate.