Nat Hentoff writes about jazz, race, and civil rights in the Wall Street Journal today. Always an astute writer and observer, Hentoff is spot on when describing the influence of jazz musicians showing the potential of African American humanity and providing a forum for interracial social interaction. Had I stayed in grad school long enough to write a dissertation, Nat Hentoff is one of the first people I would have called for guidance on the relationship between jazz and American culture. My MA thesis was almost completely inspired by a 1960 article he wrote for Esquire on race relations and cultural possessiveness in the jazz community. His work remains some of my favorite jazz writing.
h/t: Jazz Beyond Jazz
Image via Wall Street Journal
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