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Day 29 - Marian Anderson
Mar. 29th, 2018 10:00 amMarian Anderson
I remember learning about Marian Anderson in school.
Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia in 1897. Her family were devout Christians and she began singing in the junior choir at 6. Her aunt fostered her musical interest by taking her to concerts all over the city. She was singing for money as early as 10 years old.
Her father had an accident which resulted in his death so the family had no funds to send her to high school. Noting her singing talent, the pastor of her church and the directors of the People’s Chorus raised funds for high school and music lessons for her. She was turned away at the Philadelphia Music Academy because she was black. She studied privately, helped by the musical and church supporters in her own community.
Because she was black, she was limited in where she could sing and after winning a competition sponsored by the New York Philharmonic, she made several appearances in the US and di sing at Carnegie Hall. She went to Europe and took the continent by storm. She was adored and became a sensation but upon returning to the US, she was often denied accommodations at hotels and not allowed to eat in restaurants. She often stayed with Einstein when she was in New Jersey.
In 1939, the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Anderson to perform to an integrated audience at Constitution Hall. The head of the NAACP and several other organizations jumped in and picketed a high school that also denied her their hall. Eleanor Roosevelt was outraged, as were many DAR members, and they resigned. Finally President Roosevelt, the secretary of the NAACP, Walter White, and Sol Hurok persuaded Secretary of the Interior Ickes to allow an open air concert at the Lincoln Memorial. 75,00 people attended.
She entertained the troops in WWII and played Constitution Hall in 1943 to an integrated audience. She was the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in 1955. She sang for Eisenhower’s 1957 inauguration and JFK’s in 1961. She was also a good will ambassador to the UN.
She retired from singing in 1965. She died in 1993 at 96.
I remember learning about Marian Anderson in school.
Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia in 1897. Her family were devout Christians and she began singing in the junior choir at 6. Her aunt fostered her musical interest by taking her to concerts all over the city. She was singing for money as early as 10 years old.
Her father had an accident which resulted in his death so the family had no funds to send her to high school. Noting her singing talent, the pastor of her church and the directors of the People’s Chorus raised funds for high school and music lessons for her. She was turned away at the Philadelphia Music Academy because she was black. She studied privately, helped by the musical and church supporters in her own community.
Because she was black, she was limited in where she could sing and after winning a competition sponsored by the New York Philharmonic, she made several appearances in the US and di sing at Carnegie Hall. She went to Europe and took the continent by storm. She was adored and became a sensation but upon returning to the US, she was often denied accommodations at hotels and not allowed to eat in restaurants. She often stayed with Einstein when she was in New Jersey.
In 1939, the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Anderson to perform to an integrated audience at Constitution Hall. The head of the NAACP and several other organizations jumped in and picketed a high school that also denied her their hall. Eleanor Roosevelt was outraged, as were many DAR members, and they resigned. Finally President Roosevelt, the secretary of the NAACP, Walter White, and Sol Hurok persuaded Secretary of the Interior Ickes to allow an open air concert at the Lincoln Memorial. 75,00 people attended.
She entertained the troops in WWII and played Constitution Hall in 1943 to an integrated audience. She was the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in 1955. She sang for Eisenhower’s 1957 inauguration and JFK’s in 1961. She was also a good will ambassador to the UN.
She retired from singing in 1965. She died in 1993 at 96.
