Clifton’s poem describes the murder of the 49-year-old Black Texan James Byrd, Jr. Despite some personal problems, Byrd was well-liked by his community. Byrd was intelligent, though not highly educated, and musically talented. As he could not afford a car, Byrd often walked through town.

On June 7, 1998, walking home after spending the day drinking and socializing with friends and family in Jasper, Byrd accepted a ride from three white men: Shawn Berry, 23; Lawrence Brewer, 31; and John King, 23. Byrd was acquainted with Berry from their brief time in a prison boot camp; Byrd was serving time for petty theft, and Berry for a failed burglary. Brewer and King were white supremacists linked to the Ku Klux Klan and racist prison gangs. Instead of taking Byrd home, the three men drove to a remote country road. Here, they beat Byrd, spray-painted his face, urinated and defecated on him, and chained him by his ankles to their truck. Then, they dragged him for three miles behind the truck. Byrd remained conscious for much of the assault and was only killed when his body hit the edge of a culvert, which severed his right arm and head. The three murderers continued to drive for another one and a half miles before they dumped Byrd’s torso in front of a Black church.