Wynton Marsalis: "At the root of our current national dilemmas is an accepted lack of
integrity. We are assaulted on all sides by corruption of such
magnitude that it's hard to fathom. Almost everything and
everyone seems to be for sale. Value is assessed solely in terms of
dollars. Quality is sacrificed to commerce and truthful communication
is supplanted by marketing. The type of gamesmanship that
separates races, genders and ages by 'preferences' is a most cynical
brand. The integrity and dedication shown by American artists
throughout our history provides a most needed and unequivocal
counterstatement. On the eve of Dr. Martin Luther King's
birthday, let's recognize the pernicious effects of separating people
by generic categories."
Related: Ethan Iverson's sprawling Marsalis interview.