Blues Legacies and Black Feminism by Angela Y. Davis

When I read “I Used to be Your Sweet Mama” in Blues Legacies and Black Feminism, I’m surprised about blues woman what they sing about or how they express the message to audience. Before I focus on the lyric, I can’t think about the significant of blues woman. They do not just sing, but they also describe about gender conflict, fault of social standing, and female domestic life. The interesting part of blues is that blues women try to connect with unrevealed problem which is related to sexuality and female standing in society. Ma Rainey’s lyrics describe about the marriage under the patriarchal pressure. I think it is too realistic that it is closed to hazarded female life. Davis said that “the blues genre is a direct descendant of work songs” (26). Bessie Smith sings express the violence and sexual partnership. My favorite blues woman is Billie Holiday. She not only sang sorrow, but her song also contained historical tragedy.

Strange Fruit -Billie Holiday

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

What did I imagine? I don't want to think about the fact in her song because it is too tragedic. The lyrics described the truth historical fact which was the discrimination against race. I like her voice which supports her willingness.