UK “X Factor” runner up Rebecca Ferguson was asked to sing at President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. The singer says she’s willing to perform, as long as, she’s able to perform her song of choice. Ferguson has requested that if she does perform on January 20 in Washington, D.C., she would like to sing “Strange Fruit.” The song was first sung by legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday in 1939 and its lyrics illustrates the dreary ordeals of racism in America. “If you allow me to sing ‘Strange Fruit,’ a song that has huge historical importance, a song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial…” “A song that speaks to all the disregarded and down trodden black people in the United States. A song that is a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world, then I will graciously accept your invitation and see you in Washington,” Ferguson’s statement read. “Strange Fruit” was originally a poem written by Abel Meeropol. Meeropol got the inspiration for the poem after a photo of two black men hanging from a tree after being lynched. Trump’s inauguration team has not confirmed their acceptance of Ferguson’s request.
