--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the idea is now for blacks to…" description: "\"I think the idea is now for blacks to write about the history of our music. It's time for that, because whites have been doing it all the time. It's ti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/dizzy-gillespie-18297_history_i-think-the-idea-is-now-for-blacks-to-wr_1759893.png" --- # I think the idea is now for blacks to write about the… ![“I think the idea is now for blacks to write about the history of our music. It's time for that, because whites have been doing it all the time. It's time for us to do it ourselves and tell it like it is.” quote by Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/dizzy-gillespie-18297_history_i-think-the-idea-is-now-for-blacks-to-wr_1759893.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/dizzy-gillespie-18297_history_i-think-the-idea-is-now-for-blacks-to-wr_1759893.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/dizzy-gillespie-18297_history_i-think-the-idea-is-now-for-blacks-to-wr_1759893.png) > “I think the idea is now for blacks to write about the history of our music. It's time for that, because whites have been doing it all the time. It's time for us to do it ourselves and tell it like it is.” [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Black artists should claim ownership of their musical heritage rather than letting others narrate it. **In simple terms:** Black musicians must tell their own story. Key Takeaway Speak your truth about your culture. Themes cultural identity authorship history music empowerment Mood determined proud Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - Music education - community events - media productions - academic research - public speaking Key Concepts Narrative ownership cultural reclamation Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance honoring tradition with innovation? - What platforms best amplify authentic voices? A Different Perspective May overlook collaborative influences across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“They wrote, yes. But thousands could, if someone would bother to teach them. And everything they wrote was written for whites. Petitions. Appeals. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-collins/they-wrote-yes-but-thousands-could-if-someone-would-bother-to-teach/) Sara Collins > [“The idea that blacks, or anyone for that matter, need the government to get ahead in life is despicable. And even more important, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-guillory/the-idea-that-blacks-or-anyone-for-that-matter-need-the-government-to/) [Elbert Guillory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-guillory/) > [I cannot understand why some people try to write a history of photography that is separated from the history of modern art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-chevrier/i-cannot-understand-why-some-people-try-to-write-a-history-of/) [Jean-Francois Chevrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-chevrier/) > [I mean, if Beethoven had been killed in a plane crash at twenty-two, the history of music would have been very different. As would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-mean-if-beethoven-had-been-killed-in-a-plane-crash-at-twenty-two/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [The history of music is nothing more than the history of art-music or classical music, the music that was commissioned by aristocrats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-fairfield/the-history-of-music-is-nothing-more-than-the-history-of-art-music-or/) [Frank Fairfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-fairfield/) > [So I did a program with the Recording Academy, the Grammy Museum. So pretty much they take, like, one hundred kids during the summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giveon/so-i-did-a-program-with-the-recording-academy-the-grammy-museum-so/) [Giveon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giveon/) > [Aesthetically, I love the whole history of the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/aesthetically-i-love-the-whole-history-of-the-music/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [There's an institution here called the National Sound Archive, and there's a character who works there, Paul Wilson. He takes a very special interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/there-s-an-institution-here-called-the-national-sound-archive-and/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [A lot of church music really inspired me. A lot of ancient music that's made for God. If you get really into the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weyes-blood/a-lot-of-church-music-really-inspired-me-a-lot-of-ancient-music-that/) [Weyes Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weyes-blood/) > [People tend to forget that we tie our life history to music like the soundtrack to your life in many more ways than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-seagall/people-tend-to-forget-that-we-tie-our-life-history-to-music-like-the/) [John Seagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-seagall/) > [I wanted to be a film composer because I heard scores that could stand alone, from 'Vertigo' to 'Star Wars' to 'La Dolce Vita,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-wanted-to-be-a-film-composer-because-i-heard-scores-that-could/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [I just want my music to measure up to. Part of it's just thinking about my place in history and how this music is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-just-want-my-music-to-measure-up-to-part-of-it-s-just-thinking/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [You need the past as a guideline. The history of music is a good basis, but to escape that stuff, that tortuous rulebook, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/you-need-the-past-as-a-guideline-the-history-of-music-is-a-good-basis/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [I don't know anything about the history of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia-furler/i-don-t-know-anything-about-the-history-of-music/) [Sia Furler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia-furler/) > [Man I mean, the great thing about playing clubs in Harlem is people have an appreciation not just for the music but for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-scott/man-i-mean-the-great-thing-about-playing-clubs-in-harlem-is-people/) [Christian Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-scott/) ## More by Dizzy Gillespie > [Kenny Burrell is the grand master of jazz guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/kenny-burrell-is-the-grand-master-of-jazz-guitar/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [How do I know why Miles walks off the stage? Why don't you ask him? And besides, maybe we'd all like to be like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/how-do-i-know-why-miles-walks-off-the-stage-why-don-t-you-ask-him-and/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [They're not particular whether you're playing a flat 5th or a ruptured 129th as long as they can dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/they-re-not-particular-whether-you-re-playing-a-flat-5th-or-a/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [I try to play the bare essence, to let everything be just what it's supposed to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/i-try-to-play-the-bare-essence-to-let-everything-be-just-what-it-s/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [I used to do a lot of apologizing for what the State Department had done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/i-used-to-do-a-lot-of-apologizing-for-what-the-state-department-had/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [Bop is at the end of the road. Now everybody wants dance music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/bop-is-at-the-end-of-the-road-now-everybody-wants-dance-music/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [The idea of life is to give and receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/the-idea-of-life-is-to-give-and-receive/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [As a musician you have to keep one foot back in the past and have one foot forward into the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/as-a-musician-you-have-to-keep-one-foot-back-in-the-past-and-have-one/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [Mutual respect is so important because as soon as it disappears in relations between you and the next person, there's trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/mutual-respect-is-so-important-because-as-soon-as-it-disappears-in/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [One of the reasons we're here is to be a part of this process of exchange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/one-of-the-reasons-we-re-here-is-to-be-a-part-of-this-process-of/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [Miles got a mystique about him-plus he's at the top of his profession. And he's got way, way, way more money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/miles-got-a-mystique-about-him-plus-he-s-at-the-top-of-his-profession/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [I don't care much about music. What I like is sounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/i-don-t-care-much-about-music-what-i-like-is-sounds/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [When I grow up I want to be just like Benny Carter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/when-i-grow-up-i-want-to-be-just-like-benny-carter/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [I know all the Latin-American rhythms quite well, but I don't play them exactly like they do in their own country - I add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/i-know-all-the-latin-american-rhythms-quite-well-but-i-don-t-play/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [Jazz will be the classical music of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/jazz-will-be-the-classical-music-of-the-future/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) [Explore all 35 Dizzy Gillespie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) ## More History quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The NBA is my history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/) [Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/) > [Truth be told from compulsive liars with a history/Everything must change 2nd chances are a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/truth-be-told-from-compulsive-liars-with-a-history-everything-must/) C-DASH > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Browse all 27,263 History quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the idea is now for blacks to write about the history of our music. 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