Marie Scott experienced an unjust murder, that unfortunately many black women and girls have endured when it comes to having power over their own bodies. In Wagoner, Oklahoma, back in 1914, a group of white young men ended up on the black side of town, looking to quench their thirst for black female bodies. One caught a sight of Marie and tried to take advantage of her. Word is between her and her brother, the white lad was stabbed to death by one of them, prompting the arrest of Marie. She was automatically assumed guilty, not given the chance to be seen as a sexual assault victim that was defending herself, even though she was on the right side of her town. Marie was 17 years old.

Through my art, I am reclaiming this moment in history as “The Strangest Fruit of Sovereignty,” as Marie Scott was lynched for trying to stand firm in her own right to protect her black body from a white patriarchal pastime.