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.