Are Blackness And Whiteness Useful Concepts In The Study Of Music?

The terms 'Blackness' and 'Whiteness' are used in the study of music often to define the origin of the many various styles. Whilst these terms aren't always true, especially in modern times when music is more liberal, many still use them as starting points when trying to seperate music into different categories. The terms and the music that they are connotative to can vary from person to person, depending on people's perception, but rely on the music listening audience to draw similar conclusions. This said, they can offer a brief idea of origin and the type of artists who started defining the genres, as well as the varying styles, tempos and rhythms of the music itself. I do therefore believe that these terms are useful, but like alot of things, there are certain drawbacks. One being that these terms are not as readily applicable in todays society, as we see many artists breaking these boundaries, similarly to Elvis back in the 60's, who managed to merge the two together, and in doing so, become one of the most famous artists to have ever walked the earth.