MOTD: Feb 28, 2022

Still-frame from the "Strange Fruit" video by the SALT Project. A close up of one of the narrators at the microphone.
MOTD
This video from SALT was produced in 2014 to honor the 75th anniversary of Billie Holiday's first recording of "Strange Fruit." The narrators take a faith-based/religious lens, which we think is… Read More

MOTD: Feb 24, 2022

Singer Nina Simone
MOTD
One day after her birthday, another Nina Simone-focused Strange Fruit Mention of the Day highlights her “five greatest isolated vocals”: “Billie Holiday is the artist...most intrinsically linked with… Read More

MOTD: Feb 18, 2022

Designed image. On left half is black and white photo of Michael Meeropol. On right half on red background and white font is a portion of Michael's interview and a sound level meter underneath. The "Now What?" Podcast logo is positioned under the sound level meter.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day // A new podcast episode of "Now What?" with Carole Zimmer features Michael Meeropol, older son to Julius and Ethel, to discuss his parents and his childhood. The show… Read More

MOTD: Feb 17, 2022

A framed, black and white photo of Billie Holiday hangs on a dark wall alongside musical memorabilia: a blues guitar, a saxophone, and a drum.
MOTD
#StrangeFruit Mention of the Day: A news segment discusses the origin of the anti-lynching protest song, "Strange Fruit," written by Abel Meeropol and performed by Billie Holiday. The segment… Read More

MOTD: Feb 14, 2022

a black and white photo, Abel Meeropol with his sons Robert and Michael as young children playing with a model train set on the floor.
MOTD
#OnThisDay, February 14, 1910 Abel Meeropol was born. He was a teacher and a poet, most famous for writing the anti-lynching poem, "Bitter Fruit," which he would later adapt to music and retitle as… Read More

MOTD: Feb 11, 2022

Designed image with a screenshot of the video thumbnail image from the "you can say that again, billie" episode webpage, including a close-up, black and white photo of Billie Holiday singing in front of a microphone; the white play button is visible over the photo. The background of the image is teal with the multicolored Poetry in America logo in the top left. Top right, in white font reads, "Episode available now at poetryinamerica.org," and at the bottom center are two lines of text in white font outline
MOTD
The PBS series Poetry In America devoted their latest episode to a poem entitled "you can say that again, billie" by Evie Shockley, inspired by the anti-lynching song "Strange Fruit," written by Abel… Read More

MOTD: Feb 10, 2022

A photo of rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy on stage, wearing a black t-shirt and a black cap. He holds a microphone in his right hand close to his face. Stage lights flash behind him against a black backdrop.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day // Chuck D, frontman for Public Enemy and RFC Advisory Board member, collaborated with Audible to create "Songs That Shook the Planet" about Black protest songs,… Read More

MOTD: Feb 01, 2022

Peak Performance logo
MOTD
Today’s Strange Fruit Mention of the Day features “Tony-nominated and Bessie-winning choreographer Donald Byrd and his Seattle-based company Spectrum Dance Theater” and their Feb 10-13 dance-theatre… Read More

MOTD: Jan 28, 2022

Photo of books stacked on their side. Caption reads, "The books shortlisted for the 2022 Wingate Literary Prize (Photo: Wingate Literary Prize / Twitter)"
MOTD
Congratulations to Anne Sebba: her biography of Ethel Rosenberg was just short listed for the 2022 Wingate Literary Prize! The UK-based honor “is awarded to the best book, fiction or non-fiction, to… Read More

MOTD: Dec 31, 2021

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg after their arrest in 1950. Black/white photo. They each stand against a height chart in their respective, side-by-side photos.
MOTD
We are honored to learn that The Guardian named this article one of their "US editor's pick: best of 2021." It was originally published on June 19th, on the 68th anniversary of Ethel and Julius… Read More

MOTD: Nov 24, 2021

Canberra community choir
MOTD
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

MOTD: Nov 22, 2021

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)
MOTD
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

MOTD: Nov 17, 2021

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

MOTD: Nov 10, 2021

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.
MOTD
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

MOTD: Oct 26, 2021

A close-up photo of a hand holding up Anne Sebba's biography (paperback edition), "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy" against the backdrop of a window, beige curtains & a white windowsill. Out the window, greenery & gray skies are visible. The cover of the book depicts a black & white photo of Ethel stepping out of a car, with three men in suits around her, looking towards her from outside the car.
MOTD
It’s a rainy, fall day. Perfect reading weather. 🍂 Returning to this brilliantly written biography by Anne Sebba, "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy." In one passage, Sebba relates the story of… Read More

MOTD: Oct 26, 2021

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"
MOTD
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

MOTD: Oct 20, 2021

A black and white photo, tinted purple. Ethel Rosenberg steps out of a car facing the camera. Three men in suits, coats, & hats stand around the car and look to her. Ethel wears a mid-length plaid skirt, a white blouse, a coat, and a hat.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day, courtesy of an excellent review of Anne Sebba’s biography of Ethel (we especially appreciate the reviewers conclusion re: Anne & Abel Meeropol):

MOTD: Oct 19, 2021

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.
MOTD
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
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