Research Paper on:
Strange Fruit by Lillian Smith

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
contemporary society continues to struggle with racial issues she depicts in her book. The assumptions that the town of Maxwell has about black women - their capabilities, sexuality, maternal  qualities - are displayed by way of defiant intolerance toward the relationship - and subsequent baby - between Tracy and Nonnie. Nonnie is treated with disdain, which is par  for the course in a community that expresses such social and cultural close-mindedness. Bess, on the other hand, is embraced as common folk who know where their ethnic boundaries  are. The conversations that take place between Tracy and the preacher are indicative of the sometimes-strained relationship between religion and real life, inasmuch as the preacher must speak for  and advise under the power of the clergy rather than express what might be a realistic understanding and acceptance of Tracys situation. Smith  clearly illustrates how society has been struggling to overcome centuries of racism, conflicts and polarization, with virtually no segment of society left unaffected by racial stereotypes, attitudes, opinions or judgments.  Indeed, a perfect society would reflect an attitude of equality -- rather than one of segregation - toward Tracy and Nonnies relationship; however, as much as the people of  Maxwell like to think they are socially and culturally progressive, they are actually just the opposite. Tracy realizes that it is nearly impossible  to escape racial stereotypes in a place like Maxwell, for they exist all throughout the community. From where do such harmful and often distorted images originate, he wonders?  If one considers the fact that each person is a product of his own environment, it is easy to see that the influence of his surroundings is critical to