Meeropol cited this photograph of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith, August 7, 1930, as inspiring his poem.
Abel Meeropol was an American songwriter and poet whose works were published under his pseudonym Lewis Allan. He wrote the poem and musical setting of "Strange Fruit", which was recorded by Billie Hol
The sheet music for 'Vote I. for Ben', written for Communist New York City Council candidate Benjamin J. Davis Jr., 1943