But some had mixed feelings about being labeled "black" artists.

"I am only black because someone tells me I'm black," said Kincaid, a visiting lecturer on Afro-American studies. "When I'm watching my face by the mirror I find it annoying for several reasons, but I don't find it black."

Demetria Royals, an independent filmmaker, said that black art should not be seen as such an isolated genre.

"The black experience is part of the human experience," she said.

Choreographer Donald Byrd agreed that whatever the race of the artist, the quality of the work should always come first.

"My issue is that I want people to get my skills, what I do, instead of something I have no control over, being African American," he said. "It's only important if you say it's important. I don't say that I'm a black artist, I say, 'I'm an artist and I know that I'm black.'"

But Williams said that categorizing art as "black" can help the black artist's target audience gain access to what they want.