Why Early Jazz Was Not Accepted by Many Conservative Black & White People

Early jazz emerged as a new movement in American music that have had a considerable impact on the future development of music, especially pop music in America. However, in spite of the growing popularity of early jazz, the conservative part of the US society still rejected this style, had a haughty view on jazz, and viewed it as low class music. The major reason for such controversy of early jazz was its nature, because it emerged from African American, poverty stricken community, on the one hand, and classical white musical education of conservative Americans.

In fact, early jazz emerged as the music played for the mob:

When jazz musicians arrived in Chicago, they were often employed by gangsters. Their first audience was the mob. It may have been that the scarce musical sophistication of the gangsters made it possible for jazz soloists to break the rules of New Orleans’ band playing.” (Piero Scaruffi The Great Migration and Chicago Jazz, 1)

The mob and the underworld had the negative public image, especially among conservative Americans, who stood on traditional values and believed that a good person should work hard rather than get involved in criminal activities. This is why they viewed jazz bands as a part of the underworld and their music was unacceptable for them.

In addition, conservative Americans both black and white viewed classical white music as ideal because of their education and white-dominated system of values. This is why they could not accept jazz because it was music of predominantly African American origin and had little in common with classical white music (McNamara 2). Hence, conservative Americans believed it was low-class music.

Thus, the close association of jazz music with the criminal underworld and racial prejudices of conservative Americans became the major causes of their negligent, haughty attitude toward jazz.

Works Cited:

McNamara, Lois L. A Brief History of Jazz — A Unique American Art Form.

Scaruffi, Piero. The Great Migration and Chicago Jazz.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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