Austin PR firm changing name some say was racially insensitive

http://www.statesman ^ | Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014 | unknown

[windcliff]

A local public relations agency says it’s changing its name after an overnight firestorm on social media.

In a flurry of tweets and retweets that started late Saturday and continued into Sunday, people from across the nation and around the globe chastised Austin-based Strange Fruit Public Relations, which shares its name with a Billie Holiday song dealing with racism.

It is widely accepted that the song, based on a poem written in 1937 by Abel Meeropol, uses the term "strange fruit" as a metaphor for lynching victims hanging from trees.

This was one of the many tweets directed at the public relations agency, sent by @BlackGirlDanger: “You named your hospitality PR firm after a song about black people hanging from trees, @StrangeFruitPR? Really?”

[ClearCase_guy]

Time for a high-tech lynching of that PR firm, I guess.

[PGR88]

For a PR firm, that’s a pretty stupid mistake.

[jocon307]

That’s pretty incredible that they wouldn’t know that.

Now, explain this name to me, it’s a construction company (it’s real, I googled it) and it’s pretty big and it’s name is: Cuntis, Inc.

[TigersEye]

I wonder how many college degrees make up the combined resume of that PR firm? lol

[PLMerite]

“You named your hospitality PR firm after a song about black people hanging from trees...”

Well, I guess it might matter what the company logo is, eh?

[sourcery]

I would not have known, and I’m 58 years old, and quite well educated.

[ladyjane]

Why? There were many more white people lynched than blacks.

[Publius]

Billie Holiday: "Strange Fruit"

[TigersEye]

Would you use a name for your company that you weren't
really familiar with without doing any research on it?

[Vendome]

Would’ve thought it was owned by homos or they were the target market...

[jocon307]

“...and quite well educated.”

Well, you missed Billie Holliday 101.

I’m about your age, but wouldn’t you wonder about the meaning? It’s not an instantly positive image: strange fruit, you know?

[Vendome]

According to a friend there were more mexicans than blacks lynched.

She’s been spouting this for years and yet, I am unable to verify it.

I just usually let it go.

[cripplecreek]

Would’ve thought it was owned by homos or they were the target market...

That would be Sick Fruit.

[healy61]

I’m 62, well educated, and read the internet everyday, especially FR. Never heard the term before. I thought Strange Fruit was another name for Ugly Fruit, which can be purchased in a store.

[mom of young patriots]

The word fruit has some meanings connected to it already so, yes, I’d definitely do research and ask around first before putting in on business cards. It’s not like nobody around them was aware of the song.

[proxy_user]

They probably thought it was from ‘Disraeli Gears’...oops, wrong song!

[MNDude]

Here’s the lyrics. Very disturbing!

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and 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
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

[I cannot think of a name]

“Strange Fruit Public Relations”

I'm surprised the gays weren't up in arms - of course being Austin, it could have been completely accurate!

[TigersEye]

I would take my business serious enough to know what I was naming it. Maybe I’m just OCD. lol