At the turn of the 20th century, New Orleans was one of the few places in America where people of different races could play music together and live and work side by side. That delicate balance blew up in 1900, when the city’s native-born Whites, ethnic immigrants, Blacks, and Creoles found themselves in the middle of a race riot that changed American music forever. Produced by Alan Lipke.

This story was made possible by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. For more about race and culture Between Civil War and Civil Rights, visit www.racewithistory.org.