Title
Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Biography of a Song,Used
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Learn the story behind the song performed by Andra Day in "United States vs. Billie Holiday" now on HuluRecorded by jazz legend Billie Holiday in 1939, Strange Fruit is considered the first significant song of the Civil Rights movement and the first direct assault against racial lynchings in the South. First sung in New Yorks Caf Society, these revolutionary lyrics have taken up a life of their own, as David Margolick discusses in his revealing account of the song and the struggle it came to personify.Voted the Song of the Century" by Time, Strange Fruit is a searing evocation of lynching. And when Billie Holiday sang it, she held audiences in rapt attention, moving some to tears, others to anger, and all to a heightened awareness of the racist violence that was still, nearly a century after the Civil War, taking the lives of African Americans. Now, David Margolicks account cuts away the myths that have grown up around both Holiday and her most famous song, allowing readers to discover the true origins of Strange Fruit" and the circuitous paths it took to the center of a nations conscience.Margolick establishes the political and cultural context that surrounded Strange Fruit in 1939a year in which there were three recorded lynchings and suspicion of many others, and which saw the publication of Gone with the Windand traces the songs journey through the redbaiting 50s and the incipient Civil Rights movement of the 60s, right up to the reverence it still inspires today. Along the way, Margolick includes commentary and reaction to the song from black and white audiences of different eras, and writers and musicians as varied as Lena Horne, Paul Robeson, Pauline Kael, Charles Mingus, Cassandra Wilson, Maya Angelou, among others.Exploring the intricate nexus between jazz, race, and politics, Strange Fruit opens a window onto an extraordinary song, the woman who sang it, and the role it played in our cultures evolving consciousness of racism.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Biography of a Song'? A: The book explores the historical and cultural significance of the song 'Strange Fruit,' its impact on the Civil Rights movement, and the life of Billie Holiday as an artist who brought attention to racial injustices.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Biography of a Song' is David Margolick.
- Q: What historical context does the book provide regarding the song 'Strange Fruit'? A: The book discusses the political and cultural climate of 1939, including instances of lynching and the societal attitudes towards race, providing a backdrop for the significance of the song.
- Q: How many pages does this book have? A: The book contains 168 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This edition of the book is a paperback.
- Q: When was 'Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Biography of a Song' published? A: The book was published on January 23, 2001.
- Q: Is this book suitable for readers interested in music history? A: Yes, the book is ideal for readers interested in music history, particularly those who want to understand the intersection of jazz, race, and politics.
- Q: What can readers expect to learn from this biography? A: Readers can expect to learn about the origins of 'Strange Fruit,' Billie Holiday's experiences, and the song's impact on American culture and the Civil Rights movement.
- Q: Does the book include commentary from other artists or writers? A: Yes, the book includes commentary and reactions from various artists, writers, and audiences throughout different eras.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being sold? A: The book is listed as 'New'.