In August of 1886, Eliza Woods would be lynched over a gross scheme of justice when it comes to black women. Eliza worked as a cook for the Wooten family in Jackson, Tennessee. One day, the matriarch of the family ended up passing away, with her autopsy revealing she had arsenic in her system. Immediately, Eliza was to blame as she had rat poisoning in her possession during the time of Mrs. Wooten’s death. She would be quickly arrested, only to be stripped and dragged by a posse of white men out of the jail. Reports mention there was crowd of 1000 people calling on her to confess and die. Eliza refused to do so, so someone in the crowd yelled “Stand back!” Bullets would start violating Eliza’s body as she was hanged.

Through my art, I am reclaiming this moment in history as “The Strangest Fruit of Justice,” as Eliza Woods’ story is testament to how justice can never be blind and fair, when white revenge acts in lieu of judicial due process.