Cabaret Cards: The Law Police Used To Keep Musicians Of Color Off Stage | JAZZ NIGHT IN AMERICA

[@velcro4836]

I can't believe this video doesn't have millions of views, it's so informative and clearly one of the most impactful stories in all of American music history. The story is unbelievable.

[@djfritz]

As a dj in NYC i am very familiar with the Cabaret License which was finally repealed in 2018. It was heavily enforced in the Mayor Bloomberg era. All nightlife venues had to pay a very expensive cabaret license fee if they wanted to have dancing at their establishment. Didnt matter if you were a huge nightclub or a small bar. i remember djing in smaller venues where the owner couldnt afford to pay the fee, tried to work around the law by hiring djs to draw customers, but at the same time post NO DANCING signs in the building.

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

Thanks for this history. I had heard about cabaret cards of course, but never realized how they were issued or enforced, and just how long this practice was in effect.

[@A7exandersca7es]

In miles davis' biography he kept mentioning union cards. I thought it was weird how tight the union controlled who played. Low and behold it was the man the whole time

[@_grahamjacobson]

Thank you for telling an important piece of history! I must say though, with all due respect, a different image than the Cotton Club should have been chosen for the 2:33-2:40 segment. The Cotton Club was not one of those places in NYC where "races mixed together socially". It was a white-owned club in Harlem that barred Black clientele.

[@SaltyMusicOne]

Thank you for telling this story -- we need to learn these lessons

[@mutantbananas1]

What an amazing and eye-opening video

[@gstager]

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!! Thank you Christian.

[@samuelmaia9138]

A legend telling stories about legends. Thanks McBride

[@1Mrbudgood]

Great to have access to this history. Thanks for making this.

[@bmuhamad]

Isabel Wilkerson's Caste system in full effect.

[@michaelmullmusic]

I could listen to Christian McBride talk all day. Important historical subject for anyone to learn about!

[@williamgregory1848]

The introduction of the cabaret card was part of an attempt to "sanitize" New York City's nightlife (which is ludicrous!) But it was an embodiment of the institutional distrust stirred up by jazz musicians, especially Black musicians. The jazz world in New York City during that time was predominantly composed of Black musicians and artists and now, the fates of their careers were in the hands of the police, who were determined to cast music-making as a privilege rather than a right.

[@jamesten]

Sophie Tucker was known as Jewish, not "Ukrainian", even if that was her birthplace. She was a real New Yorker who had to endure prejudice too (and was highly supportive of black talent in her time).

[@mgfinegold]

All well and good about the black jazz musicians NYC plight. The use of narcotics or even pot was still considered a very big violation during those times. Very little help with addiction was available, other than dropping out and going to Lexington KY for cold turkey.

[@TheBrianna1431]

I just learned about cabaret cards on tiktok. This is important history!!!

[@Andurian]

MORE of this, please!

[@cookie135]

Very interesting watch

[@dianaheineck6499]

I recent learned that the formation of law enforcement "police departments" in the USA was formed and administered very differently than from similar services in Europe, mainly because the police were used to gather slaves that had run away....this mentality persists today with the brutality. The philosophy of policing was based on keeping people safe from abuse from government, not to participate in it as is too often the case.

[@AngelaLOwens]

Thanks, Christian!!

[@RadicalCaveman]

According to the animator, New Yorkers back then had floating heads. It's really interesting.

[@bmuhamad]

This is how partially, the Central Ave of Los Angeles, California, scene was destroyed.

[@dragonfly4484]

The underbelly of America's filth is being revealed. For what its worth, the past 10days has revealed we are in a new era. Please more of this type of video

[@adhanda2017]

Thanks Christian.. I never knew this ...

[@jonfreeze]

Best history because it’s jazz!

[@Raleigh718]

This sounds like they used this cabaret card the same way they used a boxing license in Jersey or Nevada back in the day - trying to keep certain folks in line.

[@bmuhamad]

As James Brown says, If you don't work, you don't eat. This is how they did it.

[@bobsabin]

Outstanding.

[@emicpeopleofcolor]

thank you

[@stillmotion7779]

WOW!!! 🤯

[@Niritus]

THE LICC 1:36

[@BrandonMeeksMusic]

What’s “musicians of color”? Just say Black.