Strange Fruit Mention of the Day | Rosenberg Fund for Children

#strangefruitmotd

Nov 24, 2021

We love everything about this Strange Fruit Mention of the Day, which comes to us from Australia courtesy of a recycling, socially aware gospel chorus: “The Canberra community choir—named after two… Read More

Actors and UF alumnae Anedra Small (left) and Reginald Wilson stand in front of a quilt made by members of the Alachua County Community Remembrance Project. “I can’t believe our ancestors were right below our feet,” Small said during the community dialogue. (WUFT News/ Avery Lotz)

#strangefruitmotd

Nov 22, 2021

This Strange Fruit Mention of the Day highlights Activist Artists using “the live play format [to allow] audience members to see themselves in the characters and understand the depth of the… Read More

Billy Holiday en 1942 au Ryan's à New York © Getty / Charles Peterson

#strangefruitmotd

Nov 17, 2021

We received an interesting message recently from a French writer/director, Vincent Hazard, who wrote a radio play about "Strange Fruit" and Abel and Anne Meeropol (Abel is the song's author). As the… Read More

Sculptor Jerome Meadows shakes the hand of his figure of Ed Johnson during its dedication at a memorial at the south side of the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. The two other figures are those of Noah Parden and Styles Hutchens, two African-American attorneys from Chattanooga, who provided a courageous and successful defense for Johnson, who on March 19, 1906, was mob-lynched from the second span of the Walnut Street Bridge.

#strangefruitmotd

Nov 10, 2021

Powerful words spoken at a ceremony to unveil a monument to a man lynched more than a century ago are today’s Strange Fruit MOTD: “More than 115 years after an angry mob lynched Ed Johnson from the… Read More

A close-up photo of a red, white & blue patchwork quilt on display at the Museum of Fine Arts. Caption: "“Votequilt” 1975, Irene Williams. Museum purchase with funds from the Frank B. Bemis Fund, the Heritage Fund for a Diverse Collection, and Gallery Instructor 50th Anniversary Fund to support The Heritage Fund for a Diverse Collection, and gift of Souls Grown Deep Foundation from the collection of Vanessa Vadim. © Estate of Irene Williams/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. PHOTO: MUSEUM OF FINE ART"

#strangefruitmotd

Oct 26, 2021

Today’s visually stunning Strange Fruit #MOTD comes from an exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Available through Jan. 17, 2022, “Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories,” highlights 50… Read More

Tonya Pinkins, wearing a red dress with her hair done up in a bun, sits on stage with lights darkened to black behind her, spotlight on her. She faces slightly to the right and grips a microphone to her chest. Her eyes are closed, and her face is emotional.

#strangefruitmotd

Oct 19, 2021

Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: "Broadway and TV Star, Tonya Pinkins, sings a new jazz ballad that was released [on Oct 14th] on George Floyd's birthday, to honor his memory. The song is called '… Read More

A collage of photos. Top left, a woman with long, dark hair and light colored clothes stands, looking down, all bathed in bright orange lighting. Top right, a woman with short, light hair wears a white tank top, seated at a patio table, she tilts her head to the left, resting on her hand and poses for the photo. Bottom photo, three people wearing light clothing pose for a photo among wildflowers, waist high, with sunset backdrop.

#strangefruitmotd

Oct 13, 2021

Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: From WBUR’s “7 Albums to listen to this fall,” we’re excited for Naomi Westwater, 'Feelings': 🔳 “Boston’s Naomi Westwater uses their newest release, a kaleidoscopic… Read More

quilt with the names of 5,000 Black people who were lynched between 1865 and 1965. By artist April Shipp. Photo by: Lauren Edwards Fox 17

#strangefruitmotd

Oct 12, 2021

Strange Fruit MOTD: “‘The people on my quilt didn’t get funerals’: 10-ft quilt at ArtPrize honors victims of lynching"

Split-screen image of performers Beyonce and Drake

#strangefruitmotd

Oct 01, 2021

Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: Rolling Stone just updated their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Take a look (pay special attention to #21), then let us know if you agree with their top… Read More

Historical Marker Dedicated in Tallahassee, Florida

#strangefruitmotd

Aug 10, 2021

This Strange Fruit Mention of the Day comes from our friends at the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): “On July 17, the Tallahassee Community Remembrance Project gathered with EJI and community members… Read More

Robert Meeropol, RFC Founder & son of Abel Meeropol, delivers a presentation on "Strange Fruit the Inside Story" for World Fellowship Center's June 26th 2021 virtual event

#strangefruitmotd

Aug 03, 2021

ICYMI: A thorough and personal reflection from RFC Founder Robert Meeropol about his father Abel Meeropol and his anti-lynching protest song "Strange Fruit." This is a recording from the World… Read More

Photo of activist artist Jean Rohe with her guitar at the microphone in performance.

#strangefruitmotd

Jul 04, 2021

An alternative anthem that we love from Activist Artist, Jean Rohe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay1iC1zt24A. #artistsasactivists #strangefruit

Black and white photo of Abel Meeropol, author of "Strange Fruit"

#strangefruitmotd

Jun 25, 2021

Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: Announcing a 2nd(!) opportunity next week to hear from RFC Founder Robert Meeropol: a new online event, "Strange Fruit, the Inside Story," hosted by the World… Read More

Close-up, black and white photo of Billie Holiday singing

#strangefruitmotd

Jun 14, 2021

Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: The lyrics to "Strange Fruit" were not subtle; the song's author Abel Meeropol juxtaposed the "pastoral scene of the gallant south" against graphic depictions of… Read More

#strangefruitmotd

Jun 04, 2021

Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: "An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times.” -Nina Simone #artistsasactivists #strangefruit

Artwork described in post. Credit: Percy C. King American, born 1977 Strange Fruit 2020 Birch plywood, Masonite, compressed particle board, and pigment Museum Purchase, Derby Fund

#strangefruitmotd

May 25, 2021

No more #strangefruit. #artistsasactivists #justiceforgeorgefloyd

Black and white photo of Billie Holiday singing at the microphone, close-up, cropped to see only her face. Her hair is done up with her signature white gardenia flower tucked behind her ear.

#strangefruitmotd

May 24, 2021

Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: Billie Holiday was initially hesitant to perform "Strange Fruit," an anti-racist protest song written by a communist poet and teacher, Abel Meeropol. And for good… Read More

Portrait of Nina Simone in black and white, she is centered against a black backdrop. Her right arm crosses her body. She looks down and to her left.

#strangefruitmotd

May 19, 2021

Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: "Many decades after it was first recorded by Billie Holiday, 'Strange Fruit' continues to be terrifyingly resonant. The song, which verbalizes the horrors of racism… Read More

"RFC is exactly what we need to do in other realms of our organizing- building long term infrastructure that makes it EASIER for ordinary people to be in the movement, to have relationships while they are in the movement, to have a fulfilling life while they are in the movement, and so on..."

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