Anderson, Marian
1897-1993 · Contribution: 1939-1965
Contralto & Civil-Rights Figure
One of the finest contraltos of the twentieth century and a landmark civil-rights figure; the first Black singer to perform with the Metropolitan Opera, whose 1939 open-air concert at the Lincoln Memorial—after she was barred from Constitution Hall because of her race—became a defining moment of the era.
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1897
- Active since
- 1939
- Category
- Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech
- Best known for
- 1939 Lincoln Memorial concertFirst Black singer at the Met OperaPresidential Medal of Freedom
Impact on the world
Anderson's Lincoln Memorial concert became one of the defining images of the early civil-rights era, turning a racist exclusion into a national moment. Her Met debut broke opera's color line.
Sources
- Britannica (Marian Anderson)
3 more sources and references are available to members.
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