God Bless the Child

what happens

14 year-old Charnelle Bishop tells her grandmother that she's going to the museum for an essay she has to write about ""finding a piece of yourself in history."" But she's really going there to buy drugs from her dealer, Lamont. Monica tries to form a bond with Charnelle through her love of music, but Charnelle is wary of Monica. Monica catches Charnelle in the bathroom lighting up a joint and refuses to give it back until she begins her homework assignment. Monica tells Charnelle the story of how Billie Holiday fought her own battle against drugs. In flashback, we return to a Greenwhich Village speakeasy in 1939 where Billie Holiday is performing, with Andrew auditioning to be her pianist. But Charnelle isn't interested in hearing about love songs, she likes music that tells the truth. Monica resumes the story of how Billie Holiday reacted when she first read the lyrics to the song ""Strange Fruit."" the first song to tell the truth about lynching of African Americans. Monica pers

who made it

directed

Victor Lobl

guest cast

Billed for this episode only — the turn people remember an episode for.

• Mary Alice as Georgia Bishop
• James Gleason as Leo
• Paula Jai Parker as Billie Holiday
• Antwon Tanner as Lamont
• David Jean Thomas as Security Guard
• Porscha Coleman as Renee
• KKenya Williams as Charnelle Bishop