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Writer's pictureJoshua Quddus

Jazz Activism: 3 Musicians That Took a Stand for Representation and Inclusivity

“I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about… Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.” - Nina Simone


Nina Simone, a prominent female jazz vocalist and pianist at the time, emphasized the importance of the struggle for freedom not only in numerous interviews, but also through means of her music itself. Nina participated in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s with songs like “Backlash Blues” and “Mississippi Goddamn” addressing racial inequality and discrimination in America. This quote captures the essence of what jazz originated as- an art form that hoped to respond to the troubles that African Americans faced in the 1920s, with the surfacing of the Great Depression and a recovery from WWI. Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddamn” wasn’t the sole response to Black hate by jazz musicians, though. Jazz itself answered to every Jim Crow Law, church shooting, and tragedy that took place, responding with music that encapsulated the heartbreak of their era.


John Coltrane’s “Alabama”

September 15, 1963 marks the day of the 16th Street Baptist Church fire-bombing, which left four young Black girls dead. This event was only part of a long series of tragedies: the 1961 beating of the Freedom Riders, the 1963 imprisonment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and many other acts of discrimination against African Americans day-to-day.


Coltrane was deeply affected by the tragedy, and he wrote "Alabama" as a way to express his grief and outrage. The song is a slow, mournful ballad that features Coltrane’s powerful playing and gives the listener chills down their spine. The lyrics are simple but powerful, and they speak to the pain and suffering of the victims of the bombing. Coltrane's performance on "Alabama" is one of the most moving and powerful in his career.


The song was released in 1964, and it quickly became an anthem for the civil rights movement. It is still performed today as a reminder of the tragedy of the Birmingham church bombing and the ongoing fight for equality.

Max Roach’s “We Insist!” Freedom Suite

Max Roach's "We Insist!" is a potent and stirring musical composition that speaks to the African American experience in the United States. The song is a call for unity and resistance, and it is a reminder that African Americans will not be silenced or ignored.


The tune is based on the traditional spiritual "We Shall Overcome," and it is a contrafact of the song (a musical tune based off of the melody and chord progression of another). However, Roach and his band put their own unique spin on the song, adding a driving beat and powerful horns. The result is a song that is both uplifting and defiant.


One of the tunes on the album, Triptych, is split into three parts: Prayer, Protest, Peace. Abbey Lincoln does the vocals for the record, and during the Protest section of the work, Abbey even screams, adding to the power and literal application of the album. The album serves as a call to action for not only African Americans, but for the world to recognize discrimination and fight against it. The tune ends with the Peace section, characterized by the sparse, but powerful, words spoken:


“Heavy breathing,”

“I need peace.”


"We Insist!" is an important piece of music that has helped to shape the African American consciousness. It is a song that has been used in protests and marches, and it has inspired people all over the world. The song is a reminder that African Americans will not be silenced or ignored, and that they will continue to fight for their rights and their freedom.


Charles Mingus’s “Fables of Faubus”

Charles Mingus's "Fables of Faubus" is a powerful and moving musical composition that protests racism and segregation. The piece was inspired by the 1957 Little Rock Nine crisis, in which nine African American students were prevented from attending Little Rock Central High School by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus. Mingus's music is full of anger and frustration, but it is also hopeful and defiant. The piece ends with a powerful statement of unity and strength, as the musicians come together to play a stirring rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing."


"Fables of Faubus" is a landmark work of jazz music, and it remains one of the most important and influential pieces of music ever written about the civil rights movement. The piece is a powerful and moving testament to the power of music to speak out against injustice and to inspire hope for a better future.


Mingus was a master of composition and orchestration, and "Fables of Faubus" is a perfect example of his genius. The piece is full of complex and contrapuntal melodies, and it is masterfully orchestrated for a large ensemble. The music is also highly expressive, and it perfectly captures the anger, frustration, and hope of the civil rights movement.


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