MOTD: May 25, 2021

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
MOTD
No more #strangefruit. #artistsasactivists #justiceforgeorgefloyd

MOTD: May 24, 2021

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.
MOTD
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

MOTD: May 19, 2021

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.
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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

MOTD: May 13, 2021

Pete Seeger entertaining Eleanor Roosevelt, honored guest at a racially integrated Valentine's Day party marking the opening of a canteen for the United Federal Workers of America, a trade union representing federal employees, in then-segregated Washington, D.C. Photographed by Joseph Horne for the Office of War Information, 1944. Credit: Wikimedia.
MOTD
Artists as Activists Mention of the Day: In his fascinating review of Aaron Leonard's new book, The Folk Singers and the Bureau: The FBI, the Folk Artists and the Suppression of the Communist Party,... Read More

MOTD: May 12, 2021

Black and white photo of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg seated outdoors. Ethel wears a light colored dress and kneels with her arms around Julius's shoulders. Julius sits cross-legged and wears a white shirt, dark pants, and glasses. They are both smiling.
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Rosenberg Mention of the Day: 103 years ago today (on May 12, 1918) Julius Rosenberg was born in New York City. Julius & Ethel, the inspiration of the RFC, believed that others would carry on... Read More

MOTD: May 09, 2021

A stack of vinyl albums in their sleeves face the right side of the photo. The last album in the stack is out of its sleeve. They are organized on a tabletop in front of a lamp with a white a gold patterned lampshade, all inside a pale blue painted room.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: This Mothers' Day we're delighted to share this beautiful look into Ethel Rosenberg's early life and love of music đź’• Take a walk through a collection of... Read More

MOTD: May 07, 2021

University of Oregon student and Indigenous activist Violet Johnson reads a poem under one of several trees adorned with red dresses Wednesday night. CREDIT BRIAN BULL / KLCC
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Artists as Activists Mention of the Day: “…to show a garment that’s empty, because the women are missing. In many Indigenous cultures, the only color that the spirits can see is red…hoping that they... Read More

MOTD: May 06, 2021

A vivid painting portrays a Black woman in the Biblical role of "Judith" in a dark blue dress and hair done up in an intricate updo on her head. She stands with legs slight apart and faces forward but slightly to the right. Her arms swing to the left of the painting across her body, she holds the severed head of a white man with long brown hair, who portrays the Biblical role of "Holofernes." The background of the painting depicts vivid orange and blue flowers, green leaves & vines all set on black.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: Kehinde Wiley's 2012 painting "Judith and Holofernes" is a modern take on a Biblical story reimagined time and again in classical arts, this time depicting a Black... Read More

MOTD: May 05, 2021

Close-up portrait of Billie Holiday shown looking away from a mirror behind her. She wears her long hair in a low ponytail, intricate jeweled earrings that hang low and crawl up the ear. She smiles. Her reflection is visible looking in the opposite direction.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: “'Strange Fruit,' was originally a poem written by Abel Meeropol, entitled 'Bitter Fruit.' As a song sung by Holiday, it became a classic.

MOTD: May 03, 2021

Scrapbook format with dark blue and purple marble swirl background with two images which appear to be taped to the background. Polaroid photo design with image of Jenn Meeropol on the left, ripped graph paper on the right with blog title in orange text reads "Strange Fruit" & the Magic of Out-of-the-Blue Donations"; black text under reads "by Jennifer Meeropol" and black text on the side reads "May 3, 2021"
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: When donations seemingly come to the RFC from out-of-the-blue, Executive Director Jenn Meeropol always wishes she could understand donors' motivations for... Read More

MOTD: Apr 30, 2021

Black and white photo of James Baldwin seated wearing a black jacket, scarf, and sunglasses on his head. Caption below reads "Image via Sophie Bassouls/Sygma via Getty Images"
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Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: #checksout ✅ "The notion that Baldwin — perhaps the most prominent Black American writer of the 20th century — was taught English literature by a white, Jewish... Read More

MOTD: Apr 28, 2021

Dr. Bertice Berry
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Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: A few months ago we stumbled across Dr. Bertice Berry's powerful arrangement and performance of "Strange Fruit"; we continue to feel its impact. We'd like to share... Read More

MOTD: Apr 27, 2021

Black and white photo or Billie Holiday singing on stage in front of a microphone. She wears a floral patterned dress and a fur stole. Her eyes are closed, head tilted to the left, she is singing. 4 band members accompany her including 2 saxophonists, 1 trumpet, & 1 upright bass player. All wear suits. A piano and music stands are visible.
MOTD
Sharing this excellent piece about the history of the iconic protest song "Strange Fruit" for today's joint Strange Fruit & Rosenberg Mention of the Day: From the article, "In the 21st century, '... Read More

MOTD: Apr 23, 2021

Black and white photo from 1954 of Abel Meeropol (middle) playing with his two sons, Robert (left) and Michael (right) in front of a model train set.
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Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: Tomorrow morning, you can catch RFC Founder Robert Meeropol & Advisory Board member Michael Meeropol on CBS's "This Morning: Saturday"! They were interviewed for... Read More

MOTD: Apr 22, 2021

Poem handwritten with black ink on grid paper. Poem reads: While you're worried about "bad apples" / We're wary of the roots / Because no healthy tree / Naturally bears strange fruit
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: No more #strangefruit. RIP #GeorgeFloyd, #MaKhaiBryant, #DaunteWright, #AdamToledo, & so many others. #BlackLivesMatter  . . . . . . . . Poem by Jessica... Read More

MOTD: Apr 20, 2021

Close up photo of Billie Holiday wearing a lavender dress, hair styled up, and a diamond necklace. Gray background with spotlight on Billie.
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Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: “Though we know Billie Holiday’s voice as one that redefined jazz, her voice also heralded an anti-racist movement throughout the ’40s and fought for survival... Read More

MOTD: Apr 06, 2021

U.S. singer Paul Robeson gestures during his speech at the World Peace Conference held on April 20, 1949 at the Pleyel Hall in Paris, France.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: This is a great piece (*w/ a few errors, noted below) from author Tayo Aluko in The Progressive. Abel Meeropol, who adopted Ethel & Julius Rosenberg's two sons,... Read More

MOTD: Apr 05, 2021

Painting of the faces of Ethel & Julius Rosenberg in the style of a simplistic drawing, in black and white, transposed over the image of the American flag in color. The image rests on a violet background.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: #OnThisDay 70 years ago on April 5, 1951, Ethel & Julius Rosenberg were sentenced to death by Judge Irving Kaufman after being convicted of "conspiracy to commit... Read More
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