The Lynching by Claude MacKay

Slide 1: 

http://www.withoutsanctuary.org/main.html Strange Fruit (1939) Southern trees bear strange fruit Blood on the leaves Blood at the root Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees Pastoral scene of the gallant south The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth The scent of magnolia sweet and fresh Then the sudden smell of burning 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 Lyrics by: Lewis Allan Originally sung by: Billie Holiday

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Claude McKay, The Lynching (1920) His Spirit in smoke ascended to high heaven. His father, by the cruelest way of pain, Had bidden him to his bosom once again; The awful sin remained still unforgiven. All night a bright and solitary star (Perchance the one that ever guided him, Yet gave him up at last to Fate's wild whim) Hung pitifully o'er the swinging char. Day dawned, and soon the mixed crowds came to view The ghastly body swaying in the sun. The women thronged to look, but never a one Showed sorrow in her eyes of steely blue. And little lads, lynchers that were to be, Danced round the dreadful thing in fiendish glee.

The Lynching by Claude McKay : 

The Lynching by Claude McKay

What is Lynching? : 

What is Lynching? Lynching is the illegal execution of an accused person by a mob. The term lynching probably derived from the name Charles Lynch (1736-96), a justice of the peace who administered rough justice in Virginia. Lynching was originally a system of punishment used by whites against African American slaves. However, whites who protested against this were also in danger of being lynched. After the establishment of the Ku Klux Klan in 1867 the number of lynchings of African American increased dramatically. The main objective of the KKK was to maintain white supremacy in the South, which they felt was under threat after their defeat in the Civil War. It has been estimated that between 1880 and 1920, an average of two African Americans a week were lynched in the United States.

Slide 5: 

The Burning Cross was a symbol associated with the KKK. It was used to intimidate, to instill fear and terror.

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His Spirit in smoke ascended to high heaven. His father, by the cruelest way of pain, Had bidden him to his bosom once again;

The awful sin remained still unforgiven : 

The awful sin remained still unforgiven

Slide 9: 

McKay’s message: Black is beautiful! So say it out loud: “I’m black and I’m proud!”

His Star-He was born black in America : 

His Star-He was born black in America All night a bright and solitary star (Perchance the one that ever guided him, Yet gave him up at last to Fate's wild whim) Hung pitifully o'er the swinging char. “The Star of Destiny” is referenced in the third stanza of the state song of Texas which is otherwise called The Lone Star State. The line from “Texas, Our Texas” reads:   "Texas, dear Texas!  From tyrant grip now free,  Shines forth in splendor Your Star of Destiny!”

This was once The Blackman’s Star of Destiny : 

This was once The Blackman’s Star of Destiny

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last! : 

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last! The 44th President of The United States of America

All it takes for Evil to triumph is for good men/women to do nothing : 

All it takes for Evil to triumph is for good men/women to do nothing Day dawned, and soon the mixed crowds came to view The ghastly body swaying in the sun. The women thronged to look, but never a one Showed sorrow in her eyes of steely blue

"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an un-pitied sacrifice in contemptible struggle." Edmund Burke : 

"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an un-pitied sacrifice in contemptible struggle." Edmund Burke And little lads, lynchers that were to be, Danced round the dreadful thing in fiendish glee.

Websites : 

Websites http://www.withoutsanctuary.org/main.html http://www.maafa.org