Teaching Activism Through Jazz

There is also a perverse historical consonance here, given how law enforcement impugns African American victims of police violence as drug addicts, even creating racialized categories like "black identity extremist" to justify the warrantless surveillance of protesters of color. While organizations like the Music Workers Alliance are busy developing solidarity around a fight for fair wages for everyday gigging musicians, the We Have Voice Collective empowers female and gender non-conforming musicians to demand that all jazz institutions create a safe work environment. If you benefit from being invited into Black culture, your debt, your bill, is bigger than mine at the end of the day. " - Nicholas Payton áá My ability to play and teach jazz music was a precious gift bestowed upon me by a community that has had to make unspeakable sacrifices.