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 future. In a way they both helped pave the road for future generations by giving people their souls back. …
