Discovering the Music of Protest
There is perhaps no epidemic in America worse then the racism and discrimination black people have face since the creation of this “free” nation. A shameful secret that the American government still barely acknowledged but a very real problem that has only grown with time with police murdering innocent black men, women and children, and the more recent event of having a raging racist elected as the USA’s new president. That is why I have decided to write my essay on “Strange Fruit” by Abel Meeropol performed most famously by Billie Holiday.
“Strange Fruit” is perhaps the most iconic protest song in recent memory. With a haunting piano intro followed by Billie Holiday’s shaking voice this song shot to fame being nominated for a bevy of awards, and for good reason, it lingers in your mind the lyrics and it pulls no punches, telling the story of those who died these painful deaths without the rose coloured glasses historians like describe it as. The contrast seen in this …show more content…
This song in grained with the many organizations devoted to getting justice for those discriminated against for being black. Changing and growing with the times this song has been reborn as you can see with Kanye West’s song “Blood on the Leaves.” With the rise in camera phones there is recorded proof of the violence committed against black people in their everyday lives. With a haunting and bitter end, “Here is a strange and bitter crop,” you know that both the writer and singer knew that the struggles black people would face were far from over but perhaps with this new chapter, and the demand for revenge, we can change that
There is perhaps no epidemic in America worse then the racism and discrimination black people have face since the creation of this “free” nation. A shameful secret that the American government still barely acknowledged but a very real problem that has only grown with time with police murdering innocent black men, women and children, and the more recent event of having a raging racist elected as the USA’s new president. That is why I have decided to write my essay on “Strange Fruit” by Abel Meeropol performed most famously by Billie Holiday.
“Strange Fruit” is perhaps the most iconic protest song in recent memory. With a haunting piano intro followed by Billie Holiday’s shaking voice this song shot to fame being nominated for a bevy of awards, and for good reason, it lingers in your mind the lyrics and it pulls no punches, telling the story of those who died these painful deaths without the rose coloured glasses historians like describe it as. The contrast seen in this …show more content…
This song in grained with the many organizations devoted to getting justice for those discriminated against for being black. Changing and growing with the times this song has been reborn as you can see with Kanye West’s song “Blood on the Leaves.” With the rise in camera phones there is recorded proof of the violence committed against black people in their everyday lives. With a haunting and bitter end, “Here is a strange and bitter crop,” you know that both the writer and singer knew that the struggles black people would face were far from over but perhaps with this new chapter, and the demand for revenge, we can change that