Southern trees bear a strange fruit Blood on the leaves and blood at the root Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant South The bulgin' eyes and the twisted mouth Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh Then the sudden smell of burnin' flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck For the rain to gather For the wind to suck For the sun to rot For the tree to drop Here is a strange and bitter crop
Everything has a story to tell, the living and the dead. Yet God is in the midst of it all.
* Lyrics to Strange Fruit Billie Holiday/ I do not own the rights*
Deuteronomy 20:4
for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
Genesis 50:20
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
Psalm 37:40
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.
Celebrating Women/ Facts
Sarojini Naidu
She became the first Indian woman to head the National Congress in 1925 (Annie Besant had preceded her as a president of the organization). She traveled to Africa, Europe, and North America, representing the Congress movement. In 1928, she promoted the Indian movement of non-violence in the United States.
In January 1930, the National Congress proclaimed Indian independence. Naidu was present on the Salt March to Dandi in March 1930. When Gandhi was arrested, with other leaders, she led the Dharasana Satyagraha.
Sarojni Naidu's birthday, March 2, is honored as Women's Day in India. The Democracy Project awards an essay prize in her honor, and several Women's Studies centers are named for her.
