Tracy Renee Jones - Tre Nation

Billie Holiday: The Voice of Resistance and Tragedy

Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan in 1915, was not just one of the most influential jazz vocalists of all time—she was also an unyielding force against racial injustice. Through her music, life experiences, and fearless defiance of systemic oppression, Holiday became a powerful figure in the fight for civil rights, even as she faced relentless persecution by the U.S. government. Strange Fruit: A Protest Anthem Holiday’s most iconic and politically charged song, Strange Fruit, was a haunting i

Culture

Tracy Renee Jones

Sep 25, 2025 — 3 min read

When the Cities Were Chocolate

The Great Migration and the Rise of Chocolate Cities The Great Migration, spanning from the early 20th century to the 1970s, saw millions of Black Southerners move to northern and western cities in search of economic opportunities, social mobility, and escape from the brutal racism of the Jim Crow South. This massive demographic shift transformed cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, Detroit, Newark, and others into vibrant hubs of Black culture—often referred to as "Chocolate Cities." Why

Money

Tracy Renee Jones

Mar 23, 2025 — 3 min read