ɪt tˈɛlz ðə hˈɪstɚɹi ʌv ˈæfɹɪkən ɐmˈɛɹɪkənz ænd wʌzðə kəmpˈoʊzɚz ɐtˈɛmpt tə tɹænsfˈɔːɹm ˈæɾɪtˌuːdz ɐbˌaʊt ɹˈeɪs, ˈɛlɪvˌeɪt ɐmˈɛɹɪkən mjˈuːzɪk, spəsˈɪfɪkli dʒˈæz, təbi sˈiːn æz ˌɔn pˈɑːɹ wɪð klˈæsɪkəl jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən mjˈuːzɪk, ænd tʃˈælɪndʒ ɐmˈɛɹɪkə tə lˈɪv ˌʌp tʊ ɪts fˈaʊndɪŋ pɹˈɪnsɪpəlz ʌv fɹˈiːdəm ænd iːkwˈɔlᵻɾi fɔːɹ ˈɔːl.
It tells the history of African Americans and was the composer's attempt to transform attitudes about race, elevate American music, specifically jazz, to be seen as on par with classical European music, and challenge America to live up to its founding principles of freedom and equality for all.