Sanford Allen
Nokuthula Ngwenyama
The following is a first draft, offered for
additions and corrections from interested participants (contributions
will be acknowledged). The current concern is a listing of all the
names which should be included; much additional material on those listed
has not yet been registered. The third column indicates city of
activity and (in italics) known affiliation. Biographical sketch,
bibliography, repertoire and discography should also be added for each
person. In addition to the projected functions, the potential for term
and graduate papers might be considered. All comments will be welcomed
and may be offered to dsl@afgconsulting.org.
REGISTER OF BLACK PROFESSIONAL CONCERT INSTRUMENTALISTS
Dominique-René de Lerma
VIOLIN
Ali, Lucinda E. R,SP Chicago IL
Allen, Sanford R,SP New York NY
Apple, Darwyn SP
Archibald, Amber SP
Baggini, Richard SC
Baker, Tim R Durham NC
Baptiste, Carlos R New York NY
Barroso, Luisa SC
Bedney, Ann Marie R
Belen, Danille SC
Bello, Ali SP
Bello, Joanna SP
Benavides, Romulo SP
Boga, Jeffrey R,SP Atlanta GA
Brown, Brandon R Jacksonville NC
Brown, Tania R Norfolk VA
Burnett, David R,SP New York NY
Burton, Clive R
Cabeza, Maia SC
Caesar-Kapotech, Verdua SC
Cardenas, Michelle SC
Carlyss, Earl R New York NY
Castelli, Christina SC
Castro, Aisha Syed SC
Cherry, Nicole R Prairie View TX
Clarke, Ronald R Tijunga CA
Collymore, Winston R Morehead City NC
Conlon-Gutierrez, Maureen SC,SP
Constant, Pierre SC
Corbett, Mary R Tampa FL
Cotter-Buco, Mariana SC
Coyne, Joshua
Crosby, Vivian SC
DaCosta, Noel
Dargan, James R,SC Durham NC
Davis, Monica R,SC
Duckett, Alfred Jackson MS -- Jackson State U
Dworkin, Aaron
Edwards, Mellasenah R Baltimore MD
Elliot, Brendon SC
Escalante, Isabel SC
Estava, Evelyn SP
Farrakhan, Louis R Chicago IL
Fernandez, Mildred SC
Fitzgerald, James R Owing Mills MD
Flores, José SP
Flores, Tristan SC
Florido, Jesús SP
Gavilan, Ilmar SC
Gomez, Ricardo Hamaury SC
Gonzales, Alex SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Gonzales, Yemi SC
Gonzalez, Julimar SC
Goosby, Randall SL
Green-Hill, Mariana R,SC New York NY
Gregory, Annelle SC
Gutierrez, Sheena SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Hall, Howard R New York NY
Hall-Thompson, Kelly* R,SP New York NY -- New Jersey SO
Harris, Michelle R Rochester NY
Harris, Shelby SC
Hartney, Bradley R Atlanta GA
Henry, Marianne R,SP Prairie View YX
Hernandez-Luch, Bryan SC -- Catalyst Quartet
Horne, Ashley R,SP Jersey City NJ
Howard, Dianne R Pittsford NY
Hughes, Tami Lee SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Jackson, Monica SP
Jackson, Scott SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
James, Dwyane R Brooklyn NY
Johnson, Gareth R,SC Wellington FL
Johnson, Gerald SC
Jones-Madrid, Kenneth SC
Jordan, Rachel R New Orleans LA
Jorgensen, Michael R Cincinnati OH
Joseph, Victoria SC
Joubert, Rainel SC
Joyner, Amyr SC
Kelley, Owen SC
Kelley, Velda SP
Laster, Gwen R,SP Brooklyn NY
Latin, Gwen SP
Leal-Santiestiban, Sandro SC
Leon, Nicole SC
Lewis, Patmore R
Linney, Allesandro R Charlotte NC
Littlejohn, John "Adidam"* R,SP Vancouver BC
Loftus, Mary SC
Lombard, Kyle R,SC St. Louis MO
Lopes, Gregorio SC
Lowery-George, Karen R Silver Spring MD
Luck, Megan SC
Matthews, Stephanie SC
May, Michelle SP
McNeely, Marie-Elise SC
Mettinbrink, Emilia SP
Monroe, Diane R New York NY
Montgomery, Jessie R,SP -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Moore, Marcia R
Morris, Quinton R Seattle WA -- Seattle U
Moseley, Sarah SP
Moudou, Eileen SC
Muhammad, Henri R Buffalo NY
Murray, Tai R,SC New York NY
Nebyu, Samuel SC
Nelson, Elisha R Cleveland OH
Norpoth, Jannina SC
Nunnaly, Wendi R Virginia Beach VA
Ochieng, Trevor R,SC Wyandach NJ
Orman, Javier SC
Payton, Phillip SC,SP
Penrose-Whitmore, Clayton SC
Perez, Karla Donahew SC -- Catalyst Quartet; Sphinx Virtuosi
Pereza de Webb, Marion SP
Perrault, Jean "Rudy"* R Duluth MN -- U of Minnesota-Duluth
Prescott, Ruby R Durham NC
Price, Constance R,SP Detroit MI
Quinnett, Robyn SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Ramirez, Juan SP
Ramos, David SC
Ramos, Elizabeth SC
Ramos, Manuel SP
Ray, Trujillo SC
Reeves, Derek R,SP Indianapolis IN
Reynolds, Michon R Atlanta GA
Reynolds, Tarrah R,SP New York NY
Riley, Meredith SC
Rincón, Pedro SP
Rio, Eduardo SC
Roberts, Ingrid SC
Romero, Maria SC
Ross, Chaunte SC
Rowe, Booker T.* R Philadelphia PA -- Philadelphia O
Rubio, Carlos SP
Salazar, Francisco SP
Sanders, Phyllis SP
Sanderson, John Martin SC
Sanderson, Maria SC
Santana, Matthew Leslie SC
Sellers, Leroy R Charlotte NC
Sergiani-Velázquez, Jeremias SC
Stewart, Curtis R Rochester NY
Stoddard, Ariel R,SC
Story, Roslyn R,SP Fort Worth TX -- Fort Worth S
Stuart, Joy R New York NY
Switala, Alexandra SC
Switala, Robert SC
Sykes, Chenoa SP
Thomas-McGlone, Kathleen* R Philadelphia PA
Trotter, Linda SP
Underwood, Naira SC
Uriote, Elena SC
Urrutia, Alejandro SP
Venegas, Eddie SP
Walker, Adrian R St. Louis MO
Walker, Gregory* R Boulder CO -- Boulder PO
Watkins, Maria R Winston-Salem NC
Watkins, Sean R Winston-Salem NC
Watson, Christopher R Rochester NY
Wells, Orlando R
White, Hannah SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
White, Melissa R,SC New York NY
Williams, Ade SC
Witchger, Luke SC
Woods, Christopher SC
Yancy, Chala* R,SP New York NY
Yarbo-Davenport, Anyango SC
Yarborough, David R Baltimore MD
Yokley, Edith R New York NY
Yokley, Edith SP
Zabewa-Martinez, James SC
VIOLA
Amos, Jason SC
Anderson, Alva R,SP
Archibald, Amber* R
Arnold, Jennifer SC
Arnold, Jennifer* R,SP
Baker, Beverly R Virginia Beach VA
Baker, Renée R,SP Chicago IL
Battle, Gerald R Durham NC'
Blacksher, Maryann R
Branch, Rhodena R Huntsville AL
Brice, Richard R New York NY
Brown, Al
Brown, Debbie R Durham NC
Casimir, Michael SC
Ceparano-Wilkens, Janeen* R Rochester NY
Coleman, James SP
Davis, George R North Bergen NJ
DeShazor, Leslie SP
Dixon, Tracey R New York NY
Dugan, Lianna SC
Duque, Alejamdo SC
Edwards, Kenneth R New York NY
Edwards, Renard* R Philadelphia PA -- Philadelphia O
Fankhauser, Lena SC
Flores, José Gerardo SP
Garner-Morris, Crystal R New York NY
Garza, Claire SC
Goldberg, Rachel SC
Gonzales, Andrew SC
Greene, Mya SC
Griffin, Andrew SC
Hackney, Antoine SP
Hatton, Celia SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Hernandez, Juan-Miguel SC
Houston, William, III "Bill"* R Philadelphia PA
Hummings, Amadi R,SP Norfolk VA
Insell, Judith* R New York NY
Jenkins, Christopher R,SC -- Catalyst Quartet
Jones, Caroline R Greensboro NC
Kelley, Dana SC
Kleene, Morgan R Rochester NY
Laraia, Paul SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Laraia, Steven Orben SC
Laraia, Tiffany SC
Lawrence, Deidre R,SP Prairie View TX
Lay-Rodriguez, Daniel SC
Lenares, Adriana SP
Lewis, Edward SP
Long, Michael SC
Lopez, Yunior SC
Lundy, Anne SP
Madison, John R,SP Ann Arbor MI
Marchan, Samuel SP
McLeod, Marisha R Los Angeles CA
Merritt, Romona R,SP Birmingham AL -- Alabama S
Mitchell, Aundrey R Newark NJ
Moseley, Sarah SP
Nash, Taliaferro R,SC
Neely, Madeleine R,SP Midland TX
Nelson, Elisha SP
Ngwenyama, Nokuthula* R
Okpebholo, Dorothy SC
Osorio, Santiago SC
Pajaro-van de Stadt, Milena SC
Parrimore, Catlin SC
Perry-Stinner, Shannon R Louisville KY
Peterson, Chauncey R Miami FL
Phillips, Vannia R Philadelphia PA
Potts, Kalla SC
Prescott, Camille R Durham NC
Prior, Aaron SP
Ramirez, Edmundo SP
Reeves, Derek R Fort Wayne IN
Ross, Hannah SC
Sainphor, Teddy R Rochester NY
Shaw, James SC
Shelly, Omar SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Shuford, Kevonna SC
Simpson, Michael R Fort Myers FL
Smith, Dawn Michelle* R
Smith, Yvonne SC
Spincer, Richard R New York NY
St. Jacques, Carl R,SC,SP -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Sylvester, Kevin SC
Taylor, George R Rochester NY
Thomas, Whittney SC
Thompson, Marcus R Boston MA -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Vante, Barbara SC
Vela, Fernando SC
Watts, Shania SC
Webe, Danielle SC
Wilkinson, Nina R Philadelphia PA
Williams, Mira SC
VIOLONCELLO
Arundale, Roberto SC
Barcia-Colombo, Mia SC
Bennett, Tanya R,SP Farmington MI
Black, Katherine SC
Cabezas, Gabriel SC
Cameron, Michael R,SP Prairie View TX
Cañón-Valencia, Santiago SC
Carrasco, Juan-Salvador SC
Chandler, Idris R Durham NC
Coleman, Damon R Toledo OH
Comer, Cheryl SP
Cooper, James R Philadelphia PA -- Chamber O of Philadelphia
Cox, Alexander SC
Crutcher, Ronald R Austin TX
Elliott, Anthony R Ann Arbor MI
Elliott, Sterling SC
Folson, Eileen SP
Garcia, Diego R Rochester NY
Gonzalez, Josue SC
Gotay, David SP
Greenwich, Mei R New York NY
Hicks,Yvonne R New York NY
Holland, Christopher R Atlanta GA
Holley, Timothy SP
Howell, Clarissa SP
Jackson, Patrice R New Haven CT
Jackson, Patrice SC
Johns, Norman SP
Johnson, Marcus SC
Johnson, Sam SP
Johnson, Samuel SC
Jones, Caleb* R,SC
Joyner, Khari SC
Lamprea, Christine SC
Lang, Jennifer* R New York NY
Law, Ken R Spartanburg SC
Lewis, Daryl SC
Liburd, Brandon R Virginia Beach VA
Liscomb, Ron R Philadelphia PA
Litvinenko, Anna Marie SC
Mack, Elaine ` R Chicago IL
Mariscal, Nicholas SC
Martin, Stamos R
Masdison, Earl
McDaniel, Prudence R,SP Columbus OH
Menchen, Derek SP
Menkiti, Ndidi R,SC
Mohave-Veglia, Pablo SP
Moore, Kermit
Morales, Jesús SP
Moye, Eugene R New York NY
Mtanga, Myrtil SC
Murphy, Ryan SC
Neysmith, Desmond SC
Oliveira, Marilyn de SC, SP
Orengo, Enrique SP
Ortega, Sebastian SC
Payton-Stevens, Joy SC
Pereira, Daniel SP
Prescott, Julius R Durham NC
Price, Charis SP
Ramos, Mary Ann SC,SP
Richard, Joyce SC
Riley, Britton SC
Rivas, Aristedes SC
Rodriguez, Karlos SC -- Catalyst Quartet; Sphinx Virtuosi
Rymer, Tony SC
Smith, Carl Wayne R New York NY
Snowden-Rodriguez, Erica SC
Snyder, Jared SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Sotelo, Victor SC
Stuart, Troy R Baltimore MD
Taylor, Alexander SC
Thompson, Rupert R New York NY
Thompson, Sarah SC
Valdepenas, Josue SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Vila, Francisco SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Watson, Terle R Rochester NY
White, Donald R Cleveland OH
Whittington, Tahira* R,SC New York NY
Wright, Donnie R Shenandoah VA
Young, Owen* R Boston MA -- Boston SO
DOUBLE BASS
Ali, Kelly R,SP Rochester NY
Arredondo, Nicolas SC
Belle, Maurice R New York NY
Conyers, Joseph R,SC,SP -- Grand Rapids S
Crawford, Michael SP
Davis, Arthur
Dixon, Lucille
Foley, Xavier SC -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Harris, Benjamin SC
Holmes, Victor SC
Johnson, Christopher -- Sphinx Virtuosi
Johnson, William SP
Lewis, Derrick SP
Lovett, Lamarr R,SC Boston MA
Maker, Greg R New York NY
Marshall, Akil R Boston MA
McKay, James R St. Louis MO
Miller, Keith, Jr. SC
Morris, Anthony R New York NY
Nwanoku, Chi-chi R London UK -- O of the Age of Enlightenment
Okui, Kaliya R New York NY
Olguin, Aaron SC
Pickett, Jacqueline R,SP Atlanta GA
Robinson, Richard R Detroit MI
Shakir, Sultan SP
Silva, Patricia Aparecida da SC
Snyder, Laura SP
Stewart, Alan SP
Tancredi, Daniel SC
Thompson, Eric R,SC Philadelphia PA
Tinsley, Fred SP
Villalobos, Nicolas SC
Wellington, Kiyoe SC
VIOLS
Neely, Patricia Ann R New York NY
FLUTE
Archer, Hal R
Atkinson Patricia SP,R Detroit MI
Carter, Dennis SP
Castillo, Maria SP
Coleman-Paige, Valerie* R New York NY -- Imani Winds
Dines, Judy SP
Duckworth, Michael (+p) SP,R New York NY
Handy-Miller, D. Antoinette* 1930-2002
Jones, Harold SP,R New York NY
Kay-Clarke, Daine* R Philadelphia PA
Lateef, Yusef**
Lozano, Danilo
McGill, Demarre R Pittsburgh PA
Phillips, Bernard (+p) R New York NY
Reeves, Patricia R Indianapolis IN
Roper, Tia R New York NY
Thomasn-Redus, Caen (p) SP
OBOE
Beason, Roy (+Eh) SP,R Cleveland OH
Brown, Melissa R
Ferraiulio, James SP,R New York NY
Gramer, Maureen R New York NY
Greenwich, Arnold (bar) R New York NY
Horne, Aaron
Kramer, Maureen SP
McClain, Washington (bar) R Bloomington IN -- Indiana University
Pena, Melissa SP
Petty, Oscar R Montclaire NJ
Reid, Paul Gladstone**
Ruiz, Gonzalo (bar) R Boston MA
Scruggs, Shea R San Francisco CA -- San Francisco S
Smyles, Harry** 1918-2003
Spellman-Diaz, Toyin* SP,R New York -- Imani Winds
Talbot-Howard, Althea**
Wright, John R Winston-Salem NC
CLARINET
Adam, Mariam SP
Adams, Mariam* R New York NY -- Imani Winds
Cuffe, Kendra SP
Davis, Robert (bc) SP
Eley, Marcus R Studio City CA
Harris, David SP
Keeling, Kenneth
Laing, Alex SP,R Phoenix AZ
Lewis, Nicholas SP,R Richmond VA
Lovato, Lori SP
McGill, Anthony SP,R New York NY -- New York P (former: Met Opera O)
Millen, Steve SP
Miller, David R
Patterson, Terrence R Jacksonville FL
Plummer, Tamara R
Rodriguez, Jorge (+bc) SP
Tipton, Chelsea, III R Savannah GA
BASSOON
Ellis, Monica* R New York NY -- Imani Winds
Harris, Darryl E., Sr.** -- Mississippi SO (2nd)
Hightower, Gail** SP,R New York NY
Hood, Joshua SP,R Charlotte NC
Jackson, Christopher R Rochester NY
Jones, Shawn (+cb) SP
Miller, David R New York NY
Oliver, Rufus David R San Francisco CA -- San Francisco O & Ballet
Washington, Lecolion** SP,R Memphis TN
Woodson, Joseph SP
TRUMPET
Archer, Peter R
Austin, Jerome SP
Bowie, Leonard R Tallahassee FL
Dangerfield, Antonio R New York NY
DuMaine, Wayne SP,R New York NY
Edmonds, Sean R New York NY
Fitzgerald, Langston SP
Foy, Leonard R Murfreesboro TN
Givens, Koli SP
Howard, Robert R Pittsford NY
Hunter, Billy Ray SP,R New York NY -- Metropolitan Opera O
Isles, Nabate R Rochester NY
Jones, Mark SP
Larkin, Charles SP
Mack, Rodney SP,R Philadelphia PA
Paulozzi, Casey R
Smith, Herbert
Thompson,Stanford R
Wise, Wilmer
HORN
Ashby, Jerome R
Blacken, Linda R New York NY
Cash, Nicole SP
Clarke, Deryck R New York NY
Cooper, Jason R Rochester NY
Lovinsky, Joe R Washington DC
Morrow, David Byrd R New York NY
Rose, James SP
Scott, Jeffrey* R New York NY -- Imani Winds
Sealy, Marshall SP,R New York NY
Suarez, Alberto SP
Swanson, Crystal R Jackson MS
Swepson, Crystal?
Watt, Robert R Los Angeles CA
Whitworth, Roger SP
Williams, Greg SP
Williams, Larry SP
Williams, Mark SP
TROMBONE
Blaine, Robert R Monroe LA
Brewly, Gordon R Rochester NY
Butler, Isrea R Rochester NY
Giles, Anthony (+bt) SP
Jackson, David SP,R Greensboro NC
Lockhart, Otis SP
Lofton, John SP
Reaves, Chris R
Sprott, Weston* R New York NY -- Metropolitan Opera O
Thompkins, Kenneth R Detroit MI
Wilson, Stephen SP
Young, Marques SP
TUBA
Amis, Kenneth R
Brown, Velvet* R State College PA -- Penn State U
Clark, JaTtik SP
Flythe, Bernard SP
Jenkins, James R Jacksonville FL
Roper, William R
Stubblefield, Roger R New York NY
White, Richard A. SP,R -- New Mexico S
Young, Louis SP
EUPHONIUM
Thurman, Demondrae
KEYBOARD
R not reprinted
Delphin, Wilfred (h) R Carbondale IL
Jennings, Patria Prattis
Matjias, Christian (c) SP
Nguyen, Alexandra (pf)**
Roumain, Daniel Bernard (pf) SP
ORGAN
R not reprinted
HARP
Black, Rashida R
Cleaver, Lydia SP
Garrett, Winifred R Winston-Salem NC
Pilot, Ann Hobson* R Boston MA -- Boston SO
Terry-Ross, Patricia SP
PERCUSSION
Adams, Timothy R Pittsburgh PA
Cardwell, Douglass (t) SP
Carroll, Raynor (+t) SP
Crusoe, Michael * R Seattle WA -- Seattle SO
Davis, Delton SP
Dowell, André SP,R
Garcia, Nicholas SP
Garner, Yvonne R New York NY
Holley, Andrea R
Jones, Elayne
Jurkevich, Roxan (t) SP
Moorman, Wilson SP,R Brooklyn NY
Piedra, Olman SP
Reid, Gerard SP,R Atlanta GA
Smith, Warren (t) SP,R New York NY
Verna, Xavier SP
Williams, Albert SP
Williams, Richard R Rochester NY
Wilson, Rahmira R Newark NJ
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Woodwind
msicians; African American woodwind musicians, American woodwind
musician stubs, bassoonists, clarinetists, flautists, oboists. : LLC Books , 2010. 218p. (Wiki series). ISBN 10:1157672809; ISBN 13:97811557672807.
Sources consulted and abbreviations:
(+bc) = also bass clarinet
(+bt) - also bass trombone
(+cb) = also contrabassoon
(+Eh) = also English horn
(+p) = also piccolo
(+t) = also timpani
(bar) = baroque
(bc) = bass clarinet
(c) = celeste
(h) = harpsichord
(p) = piccolo
(pf) = piano
(t) = timpani
* web site available
** see printout
O = orchestra
P = philharmonic
S = symphony
SC = Sphinx contestant
SL = Sphinx Competition Laureate
SO = symphony orchestra
SP = Sphinx Organization - Sphinx Symphony (http://www.sphinxmusicorg/artsts/symphony/list_symphony.html) [Includes Latinos; 1998-2010].
u == university
------------------------------------
Dominique-René de Lerma
http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com
Comments by email:
1) Hi William and Dom, A good start but I see considerable gaps which I will endeavour to enlighten. For some odd reason, the link http://astro.temple.edu/~greene.BlackComp/7a_performances.html shows as ‘not found’. However, I could get to it via the following
2) Dear Mike (et alia),
Comments by email:
1) Hi William and Dom, A good start but I see considerable gaps which I will endeavour to enlighten. For some odd reason, the link http://astro.temple.edu/~greene.BlackComp/7a_performances.html shows as ‘not found’. However, I could get to it via the following
Useful but seriously out of date!!! Just a few points. Firstly have a quick look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people The
term ‘Black Professional Concert Instrumentalists’ possibly needs
defining. For example, I note that Wynton Marsalis (or others in his
family) are not listed. Do we include all ‘throughout known history’.
What are the defining musical boundaries. Are there any geographic
boundaries. Finally, the one that has always caused me a lot of
difficulty over the years is the term ‘Black’. I have always used the
term ‘African origin and descent’ which is (in my view) more correct for
the way that Americans use the term ‘Black’. The term ‘Black’ is not
now commonly used in the UK in officialdom. Furthermore, a lot of
so-called ‘Black’ people in the UK are increasingly disliking that term
especially where there are elements of intermixing. Technically, nobody
can actually be truly ‘black’ defined as ‘the very darkest colour owing
to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of
white’, need I say more! In many ways (including ‘political
correctness) I believe that the term ‘Black’ and ‘White’ should be
abandoned forever as a term to describe the ethnicity of any politically
defined groups of mankind. I get even more confused by its use when
meeting Melanesian people in Fiji (including fine musicians as they have
a very strong choral tradition) or Aboriginal people in Australia. Both
these indigenous groups of mankind display appearances that may lead
people to describe them as ‘Black’.
Successive
invasions in the UK, go back to the Romans (who brought over their
African slaves from AD 43). There is increasing evidence to support the
fact that there were migrations by people in ‘small boats’ from Africa
that probably stretch back a couple of thousand years. Evidence of this
exists quite near where I live in Devon as an example. Enough politicising! Kind regards Mike [Michael S. Wright]
2) Dear Mike (et alia),
I am responding only to the issue of racial terminology just now,
because my loyal Hewlett Packard printer died a few days ago and is
being replaced by a new model from the same firm tomorrow. Somehow I
think that is relevant.
But I also want to say that your role in the entire picture continues
to be most important to all of us, and always has been profoundly
seminal!
It may happen sooner in the U.S. than in the U.K., but we have known
for years that this country is becoming very miscegenated -- not just
with descendants from Africa and Europe, but with the Hispanics,
Natives, and Asians as well. This is much to the sheer horror of
Republicans (this country's right wingers) who, because of their overt
opposition to non-Aryans, will lose political power within a decade or
two (Native Americans possibly erred with their immigration stance).
This despite one current political candidate (Ben Carson) "of African
ancestry" who has joined them, turning his back on his own people. We
already saw this Quisling-Judas behaviour of Condoleezza Rice, Secretary
of State under the so lamentable presidency of Bush II.
"Negro" was the term from the Spanish which for a long period was used
in the U.S. in lower case -- not because such was the case in Spanish,
but in disrespect, as was the case when translated as "Black", which
still lacks upper-case treatment in most sources (e.g, the Chicago
manual of style). Of course we know that is not the accurate description
of skin color, no more than"White" correctly describes the color
[colour] of Caucasians. Fisk University send me some years ago to
evaluate the paintings which had become the activity of a retired judge
in St. Louis. He told me that, when he took up painting, he purchased
black paint to portray his people, quickly realizing his mistake. We
have known for a long time that Black people come in many shades, and
that has been the basis for discrimination with those being described --
one drop of blood did the trick (transfusions could solve all our
problems!). As we began to reflect the inaccuracy, it made no
difference to the National Association of Negro Musicians. Bigots, of
course, modified the word into one that is now unacceptable, unless one
of the race is making reference to a fraternal group of otherwise
undistinguished individuals.
Then term "colored" was used, perhaps to avoid the association of the
previous term with slavery but, when this went out of vogue, the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People remained
unmoved -- and now is embracing those of other colors as well.
"Creole" has to be qualified. It can apply to Gottschalk or to Dédé
(the latter being a "Creole of color," which Gottschalk was not).
More recently, and perhaps almost always politically motivated, we
found "Black" replaced by "Afro American" and then "African American"
but that left out others from the diaspora. Not infrequently today, we
find "persons of color" being used, which opens the door for a much
larger membership (and takes up more space).
When we are speaking of the culture, rather that the creator, the issue
becomes even more complex. Music by Villa-Lobos and George Gershwin
exhibits undeniably Black influences, but only the first wife of
Villa-Lobos had African ancestry, while Ulysses Kay almost never wrote
anything remotely suggesting Africa.
You are dead right, however. None of these terms is accurate and
becoming even less accurate -- even absurd. Mixed marriages are no
longer illegal in the United States, after several hundred years of
mixed-race births -- the case of Thomas Jefferson being one of many
whose offspring eventually passed without question for White. We can
most readily use examples from our own families that involve non-White
partners without citing William Grant Still, Marilyn Horne, Jeffrey
Mumford, Gary Powell Nash, George Walker, or Aaron Dworkin. What
injustice is done to their children, whose label ignores a heritage from
Jewish Russia or the Chinese Philippines?
It all becomes clearly foolish and will soon seems totally bizarre. But what do we do meanwhile? Dominique-René de Lerma
http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com
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