The Sociological Functions of Jazz in the American Negro Subculture
Abstract
The impetus for this thesis came from the suggestion made
by a friend, a white college student of Southern background,
that his deep commitment to jazz had created a kind of bond
between himself and the Negro people, a bond of understanding
and appreciation. Fascinated by this possibility, I could not
help but wonder whether this might not be true for most individuals
so committed and, further, whether jazz might not also
have other similar roles. Finding support for this suggestion
in my reading and the comments of jazz-enthusiast friends, I
decided that the possibility was one worth investigating, that
jazz did seem to be more than just a means of entertainment or
recreation or aesthetic pleasure.