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How did jazz represent the social and racial divide of America in the 1920s? I'm a bit confused as to whether it was a positive or negative thing

For many musicians, jazz represented the racial and social hierarchies of both the professional music scene and the society it existed in during the 1920s. Jazz was seen as a lower class form of music, and even classically-trained African American musicians made a living playing jazz because racism restricted access to positions in professional orchestras. While the circumstances of racism and segregation that pushed African American musicians to create jazz are not positive, jazz can still be seen as a positive social force. Jazz can be viewed as a symbol of talent and accomplishment in the face of discrimination for African American people. Today, the genre is viewed as classic American music, and learning the history of jazz can lend to an understanding of African American history, and the history of segregation and social hierarchies that led to its creation.

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