Jazz is more than music. It is a way of thinking that has defined literature, philosophy and music. Surrounded by its unique lifestyle and culture, jazz has been constantly evolving. Emerging from the oppression of slavery, jazz inspired musicians to define and express freedom through music. As jazz evolved, it began to inspire freedom just as freedom had inspired it. New anthems written for civil rights and anti-apartheid protests demonstrated that jazz had the power to inspire change. Covered in a shell of glory, jazz hid its own internal darkness. Discrimination has been rampant throughout jazz culture. Racism, addiction, age discrimination, mental illness, and the power of first impressions have limited or ended the careers of many great jazz musicians. The biography, Thelonius Monk, the Life and Time of an American Original by Robin D. G. Kelly is an in-depth discussion of domestic jazz culture from the late 1930s until Monk's death in 1982. Thelonius faced discrimination throughout his career but became a pillar of modern jazz. Thelonius Monk suffered from bipolar disorder. His condition was confused by creativity and eccentricity. Although beloved by his fellow musicians, critics, venue owners, and the NYPD, they all prevented Monk's career from reaching its full potential. Thelonius Monk began showing symptoms of undiagnosed bipolar disorder early in his career. Monk often went days without sleep, visiting friends' homes and playing their pianos for long periods of time. Alternatively, he occasionally spent entire days in his room. He was sometimes chronically late for performances because he couldn't decide what to wear. Often during shows, Monk would leave the stage... mid-card... Sicilian to win a Grammy Award in both the classical and jazz genres. Christian earned Grammy nominations, released ten recordings in ten years, and was selected by Marcus Miller to "be" Miles Davis on his album Tutu Revisited. Marsalis said what Scott plays isn't jazz. In return, Scott called Marsalis a traditionalist who lacks the ability to innovate. In reality both musicians have merits. Just like Ornette Coleman and Thelonious Monk, Marsalis and Scott are just two musicians arguing about the new and the old. Eventually both will become curators of their respective styles of jazz. Discrimination has destroyed or delayed the careers of jazz musicians since its founding. However, discrimination has not hindered jazz's ability to evolve, and if discrimination were eliminated from jazz, it would once again become the cultural center it once was..