In 1926, in Aiken County, South Carolina, Bertha Lowman along with her family would experience an “ol’ school” no-knock raid carried out by a sheriff and his two deputies with strong Klan ties. Bertha and her family were working around the home, when these armed white men showed up in plains clothes. Law enforcement received a “tip” that the Lowmans were into bootlegging and sought to the confront the family. Having been attacked by the Klan prior to this incident, the family didn’t hesitate to try and defend themselves. In the aftermath, the sheriff died, some family members were killed or fled, while Bertha was shot and survived along enough to be arrested.

Bertha, along with other surviving family members were arrested and charged for the murder of the sheriff, plus bootlegging. Their reality going through the justice system only led to one truth; they all had to die. After being tried once, sentenced, getting different representation, appealing the convictions, and then tried again, Bertha and her family were dragged to their deaths. After power lines that ran to the jailhouse were cut, masked men walked in and grabbed the Lowmans, stuffing them into cars, ready to to take them on their final ride.

It is believed that Bertha was the last one to die, as she was shot in the back execution style, indicating she was trying to run away. She was also pregnant.

Through my art, I am reclaiming this moment in history as “The Strangest Fruit of Perseverance,” because if Bertha was crawling away trying to live, I can only imagine she had her unborn on her mind, and felt compelled to just try to survive for the sake of them.