1. Strange Fruit
The story of a poem and song that led to social change in the USA.

2. Content What is the song about?
What do you already know about the Jim Crow era?
What else would you like to know?
What does this imply about social justice in the US at that time?
How might the song have been received by the audience?
What was the impact of the song at that time?

3. Music
What function does music serve in society? (historical and cultural context)
What is the place of musicians in society? (historical and cultural context)
How are the musical elements (melody, rhythm, harmony, and form) and the expressive elements of dynamics, tempo, and timbre used to communicate or persuade? (artistic perception)
How is music used to create images or evoke feelings? (aesthetic valuing)
What is the role and function of music in society? (Connections, relationships, applications)

4. Reflect on video
What questions arise for you as you reflect upon the video?
What else do you want to know?
What assumptions did you make about:
James Cameron’s background and life
the nature of society when this incident took place
the assumptions in society at that time and place
the criminal justice system at that time and place
What do you think life might have been like at that time and place?
What new understandings have you gained from the video?
What are the underlying causes of prejudice and racism?

5. Abel Meeropol
Abel Meeropol was a high school teacher at De Witt Clinton High in the Bronx, New York.
He was Jewish and a political activist concerned with civil rights for all.
He saw a photograph of two black men, Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith, who were lynched.
The photograph haunted him and he wrote a poem about it.

6. Poem to Song The poem was published in the New York Teacher.
It was put to music and sung at a teacher’s union meeting.
The producer of the teachers’ event also worked with the jazz singer, Billie Holiday.
He asked Billie Holiday to sing it at the Café Society in New York.

7. Considered the first Protest Song
Based upon the poem written in 1938
Made popular by Billie Holiday
Challenged Jim Crow laws
Controversial
Columbia records would not put it out
Eventually published by Commodore

8. Poem and Song Inspired social change
Made people aware of the need to stop inhumane actions
Was a precursor of the Civil Rights movement