Strange Fruit: Racism And Stereotypes

Langston Hughes once said, “Perhaps the mission of an artist is to interpret the beauty to people- the beauty within themselves.” However, the truth is often ugly, racism, slavery, lynching and discrimination is not pretty, and if we sugarcoat everything by shoving the bad thoughts to the back of our head then we have failed as artists, creators, and intellectuals. The Harlem renaissance was an African American literary and artistic movement and through the creation of literature, art, and music blacks could challenge the pervading racism and stereotypes to promote racial and social integration and the improvement of society by reform. The production of art and literature would serve to elevate the race. Music had the biggest impact of all because it could speak what could not be expressed and many musicians created protest songs to convey the experience of being black. Eleanora Fagan also known as Billie Holiday, born on April 7, 1915, was an American jazz musician moved audiences with the intense, personal feelings of classical blues. While on stage Billie used the opportunity to make a very strong, public statement against racism and performed “Strange Fruit.” "Strange Fruit" is known as "the original song of protest," it was first performed by Billie Holiday however many others have performed their version of the song. The song

“Strange Fruit” protested American racism, especially the lynching or hanging of African Americans. Hangings had reached a peak in the South at the end of the 19th century but continued there and in other regions of the United States. The lyrics are an extended metaphor associating the tree’s fruit with victims of hangings. Protest songs functioned as propaganda, however, “Strange Fruit” proved it could be