ˈɛlɪŋtən ˌɪntɹədˈuːst ðə pˈiːs æt kˈɑːɹnəɡi hˈɔːl ˌɔn dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi twˈɛnti θɹˈiː, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi θɹˈiː æz "ɐ pˈæɹəlˌɛl tə ðə hˈɪstɚɹi ʌvðə nˈiːɡɹoʊ ɪn ɐmˈɛɹɪkə."
Ellington introduced the piece at Carnegie Hall on January 23, 1943 as "a parallel to the history of the Negro in America."