B : Feb 27, 1897 in Philadelphia (USA) d : Apr 8, 1993 in Portland (USA) Marian Anderson was a legendary Afro-American classical contralto singer. She opened doors for generations of black American singers.
Famous for her Lincoln Memorial concert in 1939.
Charter member of the National Womens Hall of Fame in 1973.
Opera singer who also sang spirituals.
In 1939, the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) refused to give Ms. Anderson permission to sing a concert at their headquarters. When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, a member of the organization, heard of this, she resigned in protest, and Marian Anderson was finally allowed to sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where she gave an electrifying performance of Schuberts "Ave Maria", among other arias and songs.
Pictured on a USA 37 commemorative postage stamp in the Black Heritage series, issued 27 January 2005.
She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1986 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 3, 1991-1993, pages 19-22. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 2001.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6262 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Aunt of James DePreist.
Aunt of conductor James DePreist.
Encyclopedias and biographies made during her lifetime, incorrectly report her birth year as 1902. Although her family declared 1897 as the correct date in her obituary when she died in 1993, the 1902 notion still occasionally finds its way into print.
I suppose I might insist on making issues of things. But that is not my,nature, and I always bear in mind that my mission is to leave behind me,the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow.
Everyone has a gift for something, even if it is the gift of being a good friend.
As long as you keep a person down some part of you has to be down there to hold him down so it means you cannot soar as you otherwise might.
Prayer begins where human capacity ends.
When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might as well stop altogether.
None of us is responsible for the complexion of his skin. This fact of nature offers no clue to the character or quality of the person underneath.
I suppose I might insist on making issues of things. But that is not my nature, and I always bear in mind that my mission is to leave behind me the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow.
A singer starts by having his instrument as a gift from God. . . When you have been given something in a moment of grace, it is sacrilegious to be greedy.
Fear is a disease that eats away at logic and makes man inhuman.
Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.
The minute a person whose word means a great deal to others dare to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.
I have a great belief in the future of my people and my country. .
