White People Created Jazz Is a Myth Backed by Bad History.

One of the most common arguments supporting the white creation myth points to European instruments and harmony. White musicians have played jazz since its early years and made meaningful contributions to its spread. The white creation myth persists because it answers an unspoken question about who is allowed to represent American greatness. When white musicians learned jazz, they learned this language from Black musicians. The persistence of the white creation myth also reflects broader anxieties about cultural ownership.