but, in the context of jazz and blues music (rap music is different, because it was purposefully racialized), why are we talking about "black music" instead of "american music"?

no, let's get the question right: why do you want to talk about "black music" instead of "american music"? what does that accomplish? what interests are you serving?

see, if you define jazz as an american art form, there's no issue. it's only when you define it as black music in the first place that you run into any kind of debate.

and, i think that jazz is far better described as american than it is as black, and think it's so obvious that i'm not even willing to provide an argument. jazz could never have developed in africa without the influence of european instruments and music theory, but likewise could never have developed in the strict confines of the european musical tradition. and, it needed the influence of white folk musicians as much as it did the influence of traditional black music. it is american music more than it is black music.

so, i deny your premise, and pull the rug out from under you. and, you can get mad if you want, but i'm right.

it's just one example. but, this is how the left should deal with conservative critics of cultural integration, more generally: instead of getting stuck in these tiring arguments, it needs to question the way that the debate is being framed in the first place.