Bannister has, however, been criticized for "not" often directly representing African Americans, outside of his early portraiture. Bannister's art subtly dismantled racial stereotypes, but many of his works consisted of commissioned landscapes and portraits that reinforced European ideas. In that way, Bannister has been compared to later Bostonian poet William Stanley Braithwaite, whose writing did not clearly reflect his identity. Art historian Juanita Marie Holland believes that Bannister's work reflected his desire to excel and contribute to racial uplift, while still needing to depend on white patronage to reach a wider audience. Holland describes Bannister's dilemma: