Juke Joint

A juke joint, sometimes also written Jook Joint, short form Juke was in the rural southeastern United States a simple pub for African- Americans in the alcohol, dance music and food, partly gambling and prostitution were offered.

In contrast, Honky Tonk designate an appropriate hangout for whites. Some juke joints still exist today.

Juke Joints played at the beginning of the 20th century a significant role in the development of the blues, as the first blues musicians played there often.

The word Juke is probably of African origin and was used in the Gullah creole, where it meant bad, bad, wicked. From the English word juke originated in the above described meaning, which was initially then used in Florida, throughout south-east states.