Where is Billie?
This urban artistic action emerges as a poetic and political extension of the research developed in the Black Performance course within the doctoral program at Temple University, Philadelphia. Focusing on the figure of Billie Holiday, the proposal delves into the complexities of her political persecution and the impact of her interpretation of the anti-racist song Strange Fruit.
Billie Holiday, one of the most influential voices in jazz, transformed this piece, composed by Abel Meeropol, into a visceral anthem against the lynching of Black people in the southern United States. The haunting lyrics, paired with her deeply emotional delivery, turned every performance into an act of resistance. In Philadelphia, a city with a rich tradition of fighting for social justice, Strange Fruit found particular resonance. Her performances in spaces such as Café Society and other nearby venues catalyzed urgent conversations about systemic racism in a nation marked by segregation.
However, it is painful to see that Holiday’s memory is almost absent from the city that witnessed pivotal moments in her career. Even more so, the anecdotal yet significant error of attributing her birthplace to Philadelphia (when she was, in fact, born in Baltimore) reflects a fragmented historical narrative, as if the echoes of her legacy could be diminished by inaccuracies or, worse, by oblivion.
This work seeks to challenge patriarchal elements embedded in traditional cult perspectives, reframing them through the lens of Black feminist thought. By invoking the presence of Billie Holiday, we also aim to question Philadelphia’s emblematic and touristic attachment to the cinematic figure of Rocky Balboa, the fictional boxer whose image has come to symbolize a rugged, hyper-masculine ideal. What does it mean for this fictional, patriarchal icon to dominate the city’s cultural landscape, while a real figure of resistance and artistry like Holiday remains overlooked?
Inspired by the philosophy of re-signifying public space explored by artists such as Krzysztof Wodiczko, we propose a series of urban interventions that invoke the face and presence of Billie Holiday in the streets of Philadelphia. This initiative seeks not only to honor her artistry and courage but also to fill the gaps in the city’s cultural narrative. We envision a Philadelphia where Holiday is not only remembered but actively engaged with in its urban geography, reviving her legacy as an icon of artistic and anti-racist resistance.
The act of placing and sharing stickers in public spaces arises as a playful yet subversive gesture, inviting other artistic manifestations to freely emerge and sustain the presence and memory of Billie Holiday. This simple action becomes a call for collective creativity, a reminder that the streets are also canvases where history and art can draw new paths of justice, remembrance, and feminist reimagination.
PRESS:
“El País” – Spain: The strange anti-racist fruit of Billie Holiday
“El País” – Spain: Songs that changed the world: ‘Strange fruit’, by Billie Holiday
ACADEMY RESEARCH:
