Thelonious Monk's attitude toward race can be traced to his upbringing in San Juan Hill. This community was familiar with harsh police brutality and violent race wars in addition to the typical segregation of the times (Kelley, p. 18-9). As a result, Monk was familiar with the attitudes associated with racial empowerment groups and recognized that it was not in his best interest to be belligerent when discussing race. In addition, San Juan Hill was a racial melting pot with black, white, and immigrant cultures intermixing, and Monk would have found it difficult to create his eclectic style of jazz without integrating all of these influences into his playing. Even in youth Monk was above racial conflict, as Kelley describes his collaboration with Morris Simpson, the son of West Indian immigrants (p. 35). His lessons with classical piano teacher Harry Colomby and his education at Juilliard fused with the stride piano he played with Alberta Simmons and the latin dance styles he learned from the West Indian, Puerto Rican, and Cuban immigrants. In transcending racial politics, Thelonious Monk was attempting to create a cosmopolitan "Bohemian" culture that fused the best aspects of all cultures. Patronage by upper class families such as the Rothschilds supports the claim that bebop artists such as Thelonious Monk were attempting to create music which could be appreciated by everyone regardless of upbringing.
It is difficult to believe that Monk was able to maintain his enlightened racial attitudes in spite of segregation and discrimination by whites. Perhaps his experiences with the police and other whites in San Juan Hill prepared him for this discrimination, but Monk was victimized by a legal system which gave the racist police officers too much discretionary power. They used this power to hassle black bebop artists and to arrest and fine them for drug possession or some other non-violent crime. Monk in particular has his cabaret card revoked by the police, and without this card Monk would be unable to play in New York clubs.
Monk's ability to avoid racial conflict, however, allowed him to create a community that was above class distinctions in the interest of good music. This community was only judgmental when it came to the music, and as a result Thelonious Monk and the bebop musicians at Minton's and the Five Spot were able to draw an audience which ranged from poor immigrants to rich whites such as Nica de Koenigswarter. Bebop is considered one of many modernist styles which has begun a movement toward a cosmopolitan "Black Bohemianism" in culture, toward music and art which can be enjoyed by all regardless of class distinctions.
I like how you mentioned that San Juan Hill was a melting pot, which had many cultures and traditions acting upon the young Thelonious Monk. It is so important to note this because of the stance Monk often wanted to portray, a neutral one, and one that could be liked by all. Even though it may not have been his goal to become famous, the attitude he had towards his music attracted many listeners. Nevertheless, Monk became part of the bebop movement that could be enjoyed by all.
ReplyDeleteI liked that you pointed out that San Juan Hill changed and shaped Thelonious Monk. It allowed him to show his influence above racial discrimination and segregation. It was really important that his stance was not to be involved in the aggression that came with the racial tensions. I think that he was able to use this and break through most other artists, showing his strength not only overcoming his illness, but the social problems around him in San Juan Hill, as well. His upbringing was able to create who he was as a person and a musician, and it showed throughout his recordings.
ReplyDeleteI like how you started from the very beginning of Monk and his relationship with where he grew up (san juan hill)and how you compared the social problems in the community to how he overcame them by having a "free spirit" and basically doing his own thing. Monk became an icon that many wanted to follow just because of how he dealt with certain situations and by being himself and not conforming to how people wanted him to be.
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