pablum

I was bottle fed bigotry

Prejudices were pablum

To be swallowed without question

Did my teething on intolerance

I was fed spoonful after spoonful

of mashed bananas with racism

washed down with hypocrisy

Before I lost my baby teeth

I knew that girls were less than

I was fed a steady diet of hate

and lies

and pride?

∴

I was fed this set of beliefs as a child

My guess is You were fed some hatred too

But we are no longer being Force fed

I’ve changed my diet, have you?

~Melanie Thomason

Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit

Strange Fruit is one of the first Anti Racism Songs.

Funnily enough I was watching an old episode of Touched by an Angel (which is not normally something I watch but hey nothing was on…and who doesn’t love Della Reese) and the story line included a flashback to Billie Holiday and the first time she sang this song. I’m not recommending you watch this…just letting you know what made me think of this song… I had to go look it up and now I am sharing it with you.

If you have never heard Billie Holiday you should listen to a selection of her work as it doesn’t matter the genre of music you like she has a beautiful, haunting, captivating voice.
“Gloomy Sunday” is one I can listen to repeatedly. There are other versions but damn she speaks to me.