![]() ![]() ".a potent reminder of the power of art to combat intolerance and hate. "A must-read, must-discuss that will speak to children and linger with adults." Author Gary Golio's poetic text, coupled with artist Charlotte Riley-Webb's vibrant and jazz-like images, weaves an unforgettable tale of personal bravery that is perhaps more relevant today than ever. Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song tells the story of how a gifted jazz singer joined forces with a songwriter and a NYC clubowner to challenge injustice with the power of art. What she didn't know was that "Strange Fruit" would become a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement twenty years later, and shine a light on the ever-present issue of race in America. When Billie debuted the song at a new club in Greenwich Village open to both white and black customers (a first for the time), her performance left audiences speechless, angry, confused.and inspired. "Strange Fruit," written by Bronx schoolteacher and activist Abel Meeropol, was a haunting piece of music about a horrifying subject-lynching. In 1939, a young Billie Holiday sang a song that would change her life forever. Written by Gary Golio & illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb It was a song about injustice, and it would change her life forever. In the 1930s, Billie was known as a performer of jazz and blues music, but this song wasn’t either of those things. Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song The audience was completely silent the first time Billie Holiday performed a song called Strange Fruit. ![]()
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