New Orleans rescinds little-known century-old ban on jazz in schools

School board ditches policy rooted in racism' that was widely ignored in practice

The New Orleans school board has unanimously reversed a little known but century-old ban on jazz in schools in a city which played a huge role in developing jazz and where it is still played nightly at various venues.

I'm very glad that we can rescind this policy. I want to acknowledge it. It was rooted in racism," the Orleans parish school board president, Olin Parker, said during the meeting on Thursday night. And I also want to acknowledge the tremendous contributions of our students and especially of our band directors, whose legacy continues from 1922 through present day."