Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson s majestic voice mesmerized the nationbut her courage in confronting racism was equally inspirational. When I sing, she stated, I want them to see my soul. And that is colorless. Anderson became the first African-American to record spirituals for a major recording company; the first to perform as a soloist at the Philharmonic Society s Academy of Music; and the first to appear on the stage of the exalted Metropolitan Opera House. In 1939, when she was banned from singing in Washington s Constitution Hall, Marian made history by performing for a crowd of 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial. Victoria Garrett Jones (“Sterling Biographies: Eleanor Roosevelt: A Courageous Spirit”) tells Anderson s remarkable story, which travels from Philadelphia s poorest neighborhood to the world s finest concert stages.”