Rebecca Ferguson demands 'Strange Fruit' to say yes to perform at Trump inauguration

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ANI New York [USA]
Last Updated : Jan 04 2017 | 5:48 AM IST

Looks like British pop singer Rebecca Ferguson is not sure about her presence at Donald Trump's inauguration

According to CNN, Ferguson says she has been invited to perform at Trump's inauguration, but her response may not be the RSVP the President-elect's team were expecting.

This former UK X-Factor runner-up has one condition to say yes to the performance and that is, she can perform "Strange Fruit," a song protesting racism in 1930s America, made famous by Billie Holiday.

In a statement posted to the singer's Twitter account on Monday night Ferguson said, "I've been asked and this is my answer. If you allow me to sing "strange fruit" a song that has huge historical importance, a song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial. A song that speaks to all the disregarded and down trodden black people in the United States. A song that is a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world, then I will graciously accept your invitation and see you in Washington. Best Rebecca X"

The lyrics, written in the 1930s by Jewish communist Abel Meeropol, were composed as a protest poem to highlight endemic racism in America's southern states.

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First Published: Jan 04 2017 | 5:20 AM IST

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