Jena Six

gs and I have been out of town the last two weekends, once to visit my parents in the Outer Banks, and last weekend to visit the Jersey Italians, greg's family. I forgot my camera the first time, and the second time I left it at home, but I did take a disposable, I am looking forward to getting the pics developed. On the way back from Jersey, gs and I stayed at the Dupont Hotel in Wilmington, Deleware, ooh la la.

I want to add this link to the story you are probably already aware of. It has captivated many of my students, many of them wore all black to school the other day to support the Jena Six. I never thought I would use a modern day example to explain the symbolism of a noose hanging from a tree. I have had the song Strange Fruit, by Nina Simone, playing in my head for the last two weeks. I think it is too graphic to play for my students.

Seven trees
Bearin strange fruit
Blood on the leaves
And blood at the roots
Black bodies
Swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin
From the poplar trees
Pastoral scene
Of the gallant south
Them big bulging eyes
And the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia
Clean 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 leaves to drop
Here is
Strange and bitter crop