Lyrics:
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
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
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is
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
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
Sort
of haunting, isn’t it? That is Lady Day herself, Billie Holiday singing a long,
forgotten song, called “Strange Fruit.”
The
song – which was originally a poem called “Bitter Fruit” was inspired by the
lynching’s of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith. They were two young African
American men who had been accused of murder and rape in 1930. A crowd– men,
women and children were all present- took them from their cells; the young men
were beaten and hung. A third young man was spared the noose in the nick of
time.
This
sounds like a story that had taken place in the Deep South, right?
The
lynching’s took place right here in Marion, Indiana.
My
grandmother used to tell me that when I was researching our genealogy, that
when I climbed up the family tree, beware of what might fall out of it. I think
the same applies to doing research on your home state.
Indiana
has a checkered past.
We
Hoosiers, particularly the Quakers, were involved in the Underground Railroad
and believed in abolition. Many of our young men fought for the North during
the Civil War, my great-great grandfather was one of them. Yet we had some Jim
Crow laws here, along with segregation. In 1924, the KKK had its rebirth here
in Indiana. There are many sun down towns in Indiana- towns that do not permit
African Americans or ones that do not want them around after dark. Growing up,
when I watched “To Kill a Mockingbird,” my parents said that some of what went
on in that movie, happened in Indiana when they were growing up.
In
writing the first draft of my Indiana novel, I didn’t mention racism once. I
was aware of what went on in Indiana’s past, but I didn’t think it was my place
to write on a subject that I have no concept of. Also, it didn’t really fit in
with my story.
Or
so I thought.
However,
in the last few weeks, I realize that if one writes about Indiana and the
1930’s, the racism can’t be ignored. There had to be a way for me to show what
it was like in those days without trying to take advantage of someone else’s
pain.
As
a fan of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Help,” I have read some critical
reviews that implied some irritation that the African American characters of
those novels needed help from the white characters.
What
if an African American character helps my heroine, or tries to?
As
much as I like the song, it won’t be featured in my novel. My story ends in
1936 and the song was sung in 1939. The point is clear: we must confess our
sins and try our damnedest not to repeat them. We must do what we can to atone
for our mistakes and when we leave behind the world, we must leave it behind a
better place.
I think what you're trying to do is wonderful. I love our state, but that doesn't mean I'm blinded to it's flaws. The way the African-Americans, Jews, and early on with the Native Tribes, were treated are all blots on our history, not just as a state, but as a country.
ReplyDeleteMight I add that the way you are choosing to write about racism in 1930s America is similar to you choosing to write about anti-semitism in Poland. I know you will handle both with care.
Thank you. I guess every state/country has a past. I'll be curious what you will do with your Indiana story in regards to the Native Americans. Unfortunately I don't know a whole lot about Indiana's Native Americans, so you'll be educating me along the way.
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