On patrol in no man's land, 1919. Library of Congress

Though his life was cut short, James Reese Europe acted as a hero for African-American musicians. He broke barriers which had long restricted African-Americans, and due to his efforts, African-American musicians received proper recognition and compensation for their talents. Not only were there new standards for how a black musician should be treated, he proved the merit of African-American soldiers in battle. Furthermore, he lifted a once-tarnished genre beyond mere respectability to one that epitomized a decade, and he spread a uniquely American art form across continents.​

"He was not ashamed of being a Negro or being called a Negro, believing instead of worrying and arguing about what her should be called, the proper thing was to dignify the term Negro, just as he helped dignify Negro music."

-The Outlook, May 1919

Lieutenant James Reese Europe transformed what it meant to be a black musician in America.