Is the term “Dixieland Jazz” Racist?

It is my (probably naive) assumption that the vast majority of us muddle through our days not intending to hurt anyone’s feelings. The more sensitive of us may have an innate understanding of what may cause offense without even having taken a college course enlightening us to what all the most hateful expressions are—though that rudimentary sense may no longer be sufficient. Though we stumble, we who are blissfully unencumbered by the burden of such an exalted social consciousness mean no harm; our terminology, however rough-hewn, is not deployed with unkindness. Since I do not avail myself (at my own expense) of the various refresher courses regarding necessary changes in our language, I am occasionally surprised by the now-hurtful words I have long taken as benign. I have used these words. My profound and possibly irreparable ignorance was brought home to me as I read, on the website of the Jazz Education Network, an essay written by Todd Stoll, who currently serves as Vice President of Education for Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. The piece, which bemoaned that we are not teaching the vital and joyous jazz legacy of Louis Armstrong in our music programs, included a parenthetical disclaimer: “Author’s note: I do not use the term ‘Dixieland’ or ‘Dixie.’ The term’s racist history is offensive and there are better ways to reference this music: ‘tra