TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
During the Civil Rights Movement, jazz was a voice for freedom. Musicians like Nina Simone, with her searing anthem Four Women, spoke directly to the struggle for justice. Max Roach’s We Insist! Freedom Now Suite boldly combined rhythm, protest, and hope, while John Coltrane’s Alabama, written after the 1963 church bombing, offered a haunting prayer for healing.
Jazz embodied the ideals of improvisation, individuality, and unity—values that resonated deeply with the movement. Integrated bands on stage challenged segregation off stage. Clubs and concerts became places where people of all races gathered, united by the power of the music.
Jazz didn’t just reflect the times—it helped inspire change, giving courage and a soundtrack to the fight for equality.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible byThe ETV Endowment of South Carolina.