Throughout various historical events, protest songs have been and continue to be used to spread a message, create awareness or motivate movement for social change. Many of these songs continue to make an impact on society years after they are released. For example, ‘Strange Fruit’ written by Abel Meeropol and sung by Billie Holiday in 1939, is a song that protests the lynching of African American’s in the southern states of the US. Lynchings in the US was the organized torture, mutilation and ultimately killing by hanging of African Americans accused of crimes. These events turned into horrific public occurrences attended by hundreds sometimes thousands of watchers were photographs of the lynched were often used as postcards. Although ‘Strange
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The techniques that create this ambience are juxtaposition, metaphors and imagery. Juxtaposition can be found in lines 7 and 8 which state “The scent of magnolia sweet and fresh, Then the sudden smell of the burning flesh.” This contrast between the subtle scent of the magnolias and the putrid ‘smell of burning flesh’ showcases the two extremes of the southern population; one being amiable and the other a hostile white supremacist. This comparison leaves the listener with a haunting sense of conflict as they wonder how a place commonly depicted as docile has such a harrowing core. Metaphors throughout the song such as “Blood on the leaves, Blood on the root” convey and allude the meaning and message of the song. Without explicitly mentioning racism, lynching or white supremacy, metaphors create an uneasiness in the audience and an ambience of self-condemnation. Sensory imagery is used to portray the grotesque perception towards African Americans. An example of this sensory imagery is in line 6 “The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth”, and while this can be portraying the faces of those who were lynched, it also shows how the white population perceived African Americans as repugnant and snarling creatures. By being able to imagine the words, the audience can recognise the error of their ways when acknowledging people who are different. Although
The techniques that create this ambience are juxtaposition, metaphors and imagery. Juxtaposition can be found in lines 7 and 8 which state “The scent of magnolia sweet and fresh, Then the sudden smell of the burning flesh.” This contrast between the subtle scent of the magnolias and the putrid ‘smell of burning flesh’ showcases the two extremes of the southern population; one being amiable and the other a hostile white supremacist. This comparison leaves the listener with a haunting sense of conflict as they wonder how a place commonly depicted as docile has such a harrowing core. Metaphors throughout the song such as “Blood on the leaves, Blood on the root” convey and allude the meaning and message of the song. Without explicitly mentioning racism, lynching or white supremacy, metaphors create an uneasiness in the audience and an ambience of self-condemnation. Sensory imagery is used to portray the grotesque perception towards African Americans. An example of this sensory imagery is in line 6 “The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth”, and while this can be portraying the faces of those who were lynched, it also shows how the white population perceived African Americans as repugnant and snarling creatures. By being able to imagine the words, the audience can recognise the error of their ways when acknowledging people who are different. Although