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Poster of Strange Fruit

Strange Fruit (2002)

Where to Watch in

Free

Where to Watch in

Free

Plot

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 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.

Where to watch Strange Fruit?

Strange Fruit is a documentary movie directed by Joel Katz.

Strange Fruit is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

Cast and Crew