Independent Lens Season 4 Episode 7 Strange Fruit

In the Independent Lens season 4 episode titled "Strange Fruit," viewers are taken on a profound journey through time that explores the history of racial injustice in America and how it is still alive and well today. The episode is named after the incredibly powerful song "Strange Fruit," which was famously sung by Billie Holiday and written by Abel Meeropol. The song describes the horrific lynchings of Black Americans in the South and the "strange fruit" that hung from the trees as a result. "Strange Fruit" is widely regarded as a protest song against racism and has become an anthem for the civil rights movement.

The episode begins with a discussion of the history of lynching in America, which was a tool used by white supremacists to terrorize Black communities and maintain white dominance in the South. We hear from historians and experts who explain the true horror of lynching, not only for the victims and their families but for the whole community. Lynchings were often public events that were attended by large crowds, including children, and were sometimes even celebrated with picnics and souvenirs.

As the episode progresses, we learn about the life and work of Abel Meeropol, the Jewish schoolteacher who wrote the lyrics to "Strange Fruit" after seeing a photograph of a lynching in a Southern newspaper. We hear from his son, who describes how his father and mother were both involved in the civil rights movement and risked their lives to fight for justice.

The episode also explores the impact that "Strange Fruit" had on American culture and music. Viewers hear from musicians and scholars, who discuss how the song was initially rejected by major record labels but eventually garnered a massive following and inspired many other protest songs. We hear from Billie Holiday's friend and collaborator, the musician Milt Gabler, who recalls the moment when Holiday first sang "Strange Fruit" in a New York City nightclub and the stunned silence that followed. Holiday herself is shown in archival footage, singing the song with incredible emotion and power.

But the episode is not just a celebration of the song's impact; it also highlights the continued relevance of its message today. We see footage of recent protests against police brutality and racial inequality, including the Black Lives Matter movement, and hear from activists who draw connections between their work and that of the civil rights leaders of the past. The episode underscores the fact that while progress has been made since the days of lynching and segregation, there is still a long way to go before true equality can be achieved.

Overall, "Strange Fruit" is a powerful and moving episode of Independent Lens that explores the intersection of music, politics, and history in the fight against racism. The episode is a reminder of the atrocities of America's past, but it also offers hope for the future and shows how the struggle for justice will continue.