6. Miles Davis and Police Brutality
Miles Davis, a visionary trumpeter, endured not just musical challenges but also violent encounters with authorities. In 1959, Davis was struck by a police officer outside Birdland, despite being a headliner at the club. This incident, documented in NPR’s retelling, became symbolic of the hostility Black jazz musicians faced. Davis’s resilience in the face of such brutality reflected the broader struggle against systemic injustice.
