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  • Strange Fruit (2002)
  • 57 min | Documentary
Strange Fruit (2002)
57 min | Documentary

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 ...See moreIn 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 Billie 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 See less
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Edit Released
Updated May 31, 2002

Release date
May 2002 (United States)
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Cast

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29 cast members
Name Known for
Dorothy Thigpen
Narrator (voice) Narrator (voice)   See fewer
Milton Gabler
Self - Commodore Records (as Milt Gabler) Self - Commodore Records (as Milt Gabler)   See fewer
Farah Jasmine Griffin
Self - writer and educator Self - writer and educator   See fewer
C.T. Vivian
Self - reverend and veteran civil rights activist Self - reverend and veteran civil rights activist   See fewer
E.M. 'Woody' Beck
Self - sociologist Self - sociologist   See fewer
Abbey Lincoln
Self - singer and composer Self - singer and composer   See fewer
Michael Denning
Self - historian Self - historian   See fewer
Amina Baraka
Self - poet and performer Self - poet and performer   See fewer
Amiri Baraka
Self - poet and playwright Self - poet and playwright   See fewer
Bernie Kassoy
Self - retired teacher and visual artist Self - retired teacher and visual artist   See fewer
Henry Foner
Self - retired teacher and union activist Self - retired teacher and union activist   See fewer
Honey Kassoy
Self - retired teacher and visual artist Self - retired teacher and visual artist   See fewer
Michael Meeropol
Self - adopted son of Abel Meeropol Self - adopted son of Abel Meeropol   See fewer
Robert Meeropol
Self - adopted son of Abel Meeropol (as Robby Meeropol) Self - adopted son of Abel Meeropol (as Robby Meeropol)   See fewer
Jeffrey Melnick
Self - historian (as Jeff Melnick) Self - historian (as Jeff Melnick)   See fewer
Don Byron
Self - composer Self - composer   See fewer
Josh White
Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage)   See fewer
Rich Rusk
Self (voice) Self (voice)   See fewer
Robert Howard
Self - Moore's Ford Memorial Committee Self - Moore's Ford Memorial Committee   See fewer
Ethel Rosenberg
Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage)   See fewer
Julius Rosenberg
Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage)   See fewer
Emanuel Bloch
Self - lawyer (archive footage) (as Emmanuel Bloch) Self - lawyer (archive footage) (as Emmanuel Bloch)   See fewer
Lewis Allen
Self (voice) (archive footage) (as Abel Meeropol) Self (voice) (archive footage) (as Abel Meeropol)   See fewer
Abel Meeropol
Self (voice) (archive footage) Self (voice) (archive footage)   See fewer
Billie Holiday
Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage)   See fewer
Hazel Carby
Self - writer Self - writer   See fewer
Ray Pultinas
Self - English teacher, DeWitt Clinton High School Self - English teacher, DeWitt Clinton High School   See fewer
Cassandra Wilson
Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage)   See fewer
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