“Low Hanging Fruit” Vs. “Strange Fruit”

What it really means is that, since I’ve engaged in anti-corporate boycotts and international anti-war organizing, I will remain just at arm’s length – accessible whenever someone from the supposed “Earth Liberation Front” destroys an SUV dealership or some sort of civil disobedience takes place that could seriously impact a corporation’s bottom line.

I get it. At your own job, isn’t it appealing to tackle what is most easily accessible and evident first? I’m already on the radar. And a little digging could always bring some insidious plot to the surface, right?

Since I turn 32 Monday I’m feeling particularly reflective about what this means the rest of my days. I have no way of knowing whether I will have to endure anything equal to or worse than all I’ve been put through in the last year and a half. But I do know that someone will likely always be able to quickly discern my movements, involvements, and assets. Depending on the political climate, I could possibly easily be elevated on the threat indices. It sucks.

But it could suck a lot worse.

Flipping through the New York Times this morning, I came across a map showing the 50-60 “noose incidents” that have occurred since the September 20 Jena Six rally. All of that subconscious pinging and ponging struck my memory of Strange Fruit, the lynching lament sang most famously by Billie Holiday:

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

The dissonance of such “strange fruit” is chilling – hard to conceptualize. I can only imagine the visceral responses nooses evoke for those who have emerged from legacy of violent racial oppression. That there used to be around 12 “noose incidents” per year and we have seen so many since September is cause for alarm.

I have to keep reminding myself that I have been scared shitless by spooks, but part of the reason it’s been so jarring is because I’ve always been relatively protected by the state since I’m white and financially comfortable. We are in a civil liberties emergency in this country. The NAACP has also declared a state of emergency due to the increased racial violence and law enforcement inequities. If we are truly dedicated to the principles of our founders, we have to raise hell about this racial injustice while we struggle to preserve our constitution.

As a first step I recently donated to the NAACP and will also give to the Southern Poverty Law Center. I realize that I could easily sound like a shallow, privileged white lady who is throwing money at problems. But – these are organizations fighting for rights and liberties that are worthy of support. I will focus on next steps after my thesis is finished. Now that I’m becoming more “out” about my experience and less and less afraid in general, I can’t wait to get plugged in to the work of civil liberties and rights groups.

Someday soon I hope circumstances lead to more promising fruit metaphors...

What is motivating you? What (even tiny) actions are you taking? What suggestions do you have?

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