[Dixielandjazz] Early recordings by "Black bands"

[Marek Boym]

I apolgize.  It happened in WWI, not II.
I know about the black aiforce unit.
In the American army, there were negro combat units.  After WWI, an
unprecedented wave of lynching swept throug hthe US south - the sothern
whites' way of telling the Negroes that their killing of whites in Europe
was no really appreciated.
Not sure it has much to do with jazz.  But jazz was less segregated.
although Nick La Rocca was accused of racism, the ODJB's first clarinet
player of choice was a Creole.  Sure, he could, and did, "pass," but he was
fraom New Orleans and his bandmates knew.  On the other hand, some white
musicians hired to record with Fats would not sit in the same room with him
and grumbled about having to work "with that nigger" (in the depression
days when any gig should have been welocme).
Cheers (jost back from another Dancing Camel jam, and two pints of
excellent beer brewed on the premises)


On 13 February 2014 00:14, Jack Mitchell <fjmitch at westnet.com.au> wrote:

>
>
>
>   "There was a case of an American Negro who served in the French
> ariforce during WWII.  When The US joined the war effort, he wanted to fly
> for his own country, but was told that no Negroes were accepted."
>
> Marek, the US armed forces were segregated just as much as the civilian
> world, as intergrated units would not have been acceptable to many white
> soldiers, especially those from the south. In the army Negro units were
> used as support groups only.
>
> However the 99th Fighter Squadron of the USAAF, commonly called the
> TUSKEGEE SQUADRON, was indeed an all Negro affair and had a great record of
> bravery and efficiency.
>
> Best wishes
> Jack
>
>