Broadways Terminales – page 52 CORRIGÉ ‘Southern Trees’ About the author Name – SURNAME: Billie HOLIDAY Gender: female Nationality: American Skin colour: African-American

Occupation (=job): Blues and Jazz singer. About the extract Source: Billie Holiday’s autobiography, Lady sings the Blues (1956) Type of narrative: It’s a first person narrative. The setting: nightclubs where Miss Holiday sang. The narrator: a VERY (very, very, very!!!) famous African American Blues singer. The title is a reference to the first two words of the famous protest song “Strange fruit”. In the Southern and Border States, these trees held the bodies (the strange fruit) of people victims of lynching. Detailed comprehension – Choose the right answer(s). ‘Strange fruit’ is the title of a song performed / a movie made / a book written by Billie HOLIDAY. It was made after a speech / an article / a poem by a schoolteacher called Lewis ALLEN. ‘Strange fruit’ refers to the dead bodies of black people lynched by white racists / the victims of racism in the South of the USA / a specialty served at Café Society. This song reminds the narrator of her father’s death / her dad’s tragic end / the birth of pop music. The singer was certain her audience would love the song / was afraid of her public’s reactions / felt personally involved (impliquée) in the song. Billie HOLIDAY enjoyed singing her famous hit / continued to sing it for the money / wanted to expose the situation in the South. Racism, segregation and violence were still present when she sang her song / had been eradicated for good / were the result of her protest song. The two anecdotes she mentions from line 22 to line 34 are very emotional / quite humorous / rather moving. After performing her song, she would run to the toilets to vomit / start to cry / remain totally insensitive. For her last performance in Miami, she opened her show with ‘Strange Fruit’ / she didn’t want to sing ‘Strange Fruit’ / the reaction of the audience was