The desegregation of military bands
From Rapp on Jazz by South Carolina Public Radio
March 17, 2026 · 1 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the role of jazz in the desegregation of U.S. military bands during World War II.
Jazz played a surprising yet powerful role in the desegregation of U.S. military bands. During World War II, African American musicians were often restricted to all-Black units despite their talent and experience. Yet their exceptional skill in jazz ensembles and big bands could not be ignored. Visit southcarolinapublicradio.org/rapponjazz for full transcripts.
Topics covered
- desegregation
- military bands
- jazz
- World War II
- African American musicians
Mentioned in this episode
Places: U.S.
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