Strange Fruit (2002)
57 min
In 1937, after seeing a photo depicting the lynching of a black man in the south, Bronx-born high school teacher Abel Meeropol wrote a poem entitled "Strange Fruit" that begins with the words: "Southern trees bear a strange fruit / Blood on the leaves and blood at the root." He set the poem to music and a few years later convinced Billy holiday to record it in a legendary heartbreaking performance. Intertwining jazz genealogy, biography, performance footage, and the history of lynching, director Joel Katz fashions a fascinating discovery of the lost story behind a true American classic. Written by Excerpted from Coolidge Corner Theatre Program Update
- Release date
- May 20, 2002
- Country of origin
- United States
Cast
- Dorothy Thigpen as Narrator
- Milton Gabler as Self - Commodore Records
- Farah Jasmine Griffin as Self - writer and educator
- C.T. Vivian as Self - reverend and veteran civil rights activist
- E.M. 'Woody' Beck as Self - sociologist
- Abbey Lincoln as Self - singer and composer
- Michael Denning as Self - historian
- Amina Baraka as Self - poet and performer
- Amiri Baraka as Self - poet and playwright
- Bernie Kassoy as Self - retired teacher and visual artist
Crew
- Joel Katz · Director
- Joel Katz · Writer
- Joel Katz · Producer
- Don Byron · Composer
- Jon Miglietta · Cinematographer
- Thomas Torres · Cinematographer
- Joel Katz · Editor