America Quote by James Reese Europe
“I have come from France more firmly convinced than ever that Negros should write Negro music. We have our own racial feeling and if we try to copy whites we will make bad copies…We won France by playing music which was ours and not a pale imitation of others, and if we are to develop in America we must develop along our own lines.”
About This Quote
Negro music should be authentically created, not imitated from white styles, to preserve cultural integrity.
In simple terms: Create authentic Negro music.
Key Takeaway
Celebrate cultural originality.
Themes
cultural identity
authenticity
music
Mood
proud
assertive
Type
America:0
Convinced:0
Copies:0
Feelings:0
France:0
Ifs:0
Imitation:0
Lines:0
Music:0
Pale:0
Playing music:0
Should:0
Trying:0
Writing:0
Negro Music:0
Music Racial:0
Racial Feeling:0
Convinced Negros:0
Write Negro:0
When to use this quote
- musical composition
- performance
Key Concepts
artistic expression
heritage preservation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does authenticity shape art?
- What defines “own” musical tradition?
A Different Perspective
Imitation can dilute culture.
![“The word [jazz] never lost its association with those New Orleans bordellos. In the 1920s I used to try to convince Fletcher Henderson that we ought to call what we were doing 'Negro music'. But it's too late for that now.” quote by Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/faf/duke-ellington-7513_association_the-word-jazz-never-lost-its-association_1416186.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
