The racial formation not taken: Occupational careers and the making of jazz album covers, 1950–1969

Abstract

How are racial representations created? I compare two kinds of jazz album cover from the 1950s and 60s to show that the production of culture approach has untapped potential for answering that question. After demonstrating that photographic and modern art-based work constructed Blackness in different ways, I account for photography's domination of the sleeve by focusing on the structure and history of occupational careers. Compared to painters, I show, photographers had (a) easier entry into and harder exit out of cover design, and (b) earlier and more regular access to jazz musicians. Based on these findings, I call for a rethinking of the role of racial projects in racial formation; an elaboration of the production of culture approach; and the expansion of the scope of the interracial coalition concept.