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Are Negro Composers Handicapped?

Are Negro Composers Handicapped? Are Negro Composers Handicapped? When the editor of The Baton asked me the question that appears as the title of this article, I wondered idly whether he expected me to reply with a fervent denunciation of existing conditions, or to sob out a pitiful tale of frustration—in short, to startle readers with the sheer daring of my views. It is quite possible that he did not expect my answer to be "no." Frankly, I do not believe that any honors which have failed to come to me have done so because I am a colored man. Nor do I believe that leading symphony orchestras the world over play my music because I am a Negro. If one can believe the letters that have come from conductors and listeners, and the notices from critics, my music is played because it is liked; because it says something to those who hear it. There would be no point in playing it simply because I am colored. The day has passed when a colored man can do things that are "pretty good for a colored man" and be praised for them. Now he must take his place along with the finest in his http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Black Sacred Music Duke University Press

Are Negro Composers Handicapped?

Spencer, Jon Michael
Black Sacred Music , Volume 6 (2) – Sep 1, 1992
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Copyright
Copyright © 1992 by Duke University Press
ISSN
1043-9455
eISSN
2640-9879
DOI
10.1215/10439455-6.2.88
Publisher site
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Abstract

Are Negro Composers Handicapped? When the editor of The Baton asked me the question that appears as the title of this article, I wondered idly whether he expected me to reply with a fervent denunciation of existing conditions, or to sob out a pitiful tale of frustration—in short, to startle readers with the sheer daring of my views. It is quite possible that he did not expect my answer to be "no." Frankly, I do not believe that any honors which have failed to come to me have done so because I am a colored man. Nor do I believe that leading symphony orchestras the world over play my music because I am a Negro. If one can believe the letters that have come from conductors and listeners, and the notices from critics, my music is played because it is liked; because it says something to those who hear it. There would be no point in playing it simply because I am colored. The day has passed when a colored man can do things that are "pretty good for a colored man" and be praised for them. Now he must take his place along with the finest in his

Journal

Black Sacred Music – Duke University Press

Published: Sep 1, 1992

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