William Christopher Handy and William Grant Still were both great Black composers that were subjected to a time in which their racial identity had both positive and negative effects on their music. Positively, their music was able to reach other African Americans which created a unity and appreciation for simply being themselves. They brought pride to who they were, their background from out of which they came, and managed to give them hope for the …showed first 75 words of 583 total…

…showed last 75 words of 583 total…to his race, and no matter the outcome, is glad to have done so. Grant is proud to be a part of it as well, but wants to make people realize the ignorance of their ways. Although both men differ, all people do; and in this they are very much the same in that aspect. One thing holds true, and is the importance of both of these men in the history and background of blues.