The 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. steering committee is sponsoring the final installment in this year’s “The Words and the Music” film series on women and the struggle for civil rights. The film “Strange Fruit” will be shown at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, in Herrick Auditorium (500 West Loop). Erika Molloseau assistant professor of communication, will introduce the movie and discuss it afterward.

“Strange Fruit,” produced by Joel Katz in 2002, is the first documentary exploring the history and legacy of the Billie Holiday classic about the southern campaign of racist terror and lynching of African-Americans. The song's evolution tells a dramatic story of America's radical past using one of the most influential protest songs ever written as its epicenter.

The film examines the history of lynching, and the interplay of race, labor and popular culture as forces that would give rise to the Civil Rights Movement.

Continuing the focus on “The Words and the Music” of social justice, the 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration illuminates how women have employed words and music to inspire activism and social change through a range of cultural performances and lectures.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville—Film Series, “Strange Fruit,” 7 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 28, Herrick Auditorium (500 West Loop). Free and open to the public. For further information contact Lisa Scott at 740-587-6711.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575