The multifaceted nationalism of William Grant Still.(African American Musician)

To glean the essence of William Grant Still's contributions to American music, it will be useful to capture briefly the views expressed during the formative years of this country's nationhood about the creativity of African-Americans. Thomas Jefferson, for example, wrote:

 
      But never yet could I find that a black had uttered a thought above the 
   level of plain narration; never saw even an elementary trait of painting or 
   sculpture. In music they are more generously gifted than the whites with 
   accurate ears for tune and time, and they have been found capable of 
   imagining a small catch. (The instrument proper to them is the Banjar, 
   which they ...