Marian Anderson
By Sandra Peura
My name is Marian. Marian Anderson. Some people have called me "the world's greatest contralto". Arturo Toscanini, an Italian Symphony Conductor once said, "She has a voice that is heard only once in a hundred years." I just want to be remembered as someone who loved to sing.
I was born in Philadelphia way back in 1902. My childhood was probably very much like your own. We never had much money, but we were happy. All of us, mother, dad, and my younger sisters Alyce and Ethel just liked to be together. One thing that may have been different from your childhood is that I loved to sing. Oh, how I loved to sing. I sang in the children's choir at Union Baptist Church. When I turned thirteen, I joined the adult choir too. In high school, I sang in the chorus as well. One thing I would have liked to do was go to music school. Oh, I tried to submit my application, but I was told by the receptionist that people of my color were not allowed to apply. Many times the color of my skin became a big issue with some people.
Sometimes it determined where I sat when I travelled by train. By this time, I was travelling across the United States giving concerts and recitals. I remember once travelling to a concert in Savannah, Georgia. I was put in the "Jim Crow" car. It had filthy windows and was just plain dirty; but it was where we had to sit. Some people accepted the separate seating, some didn't, and some were embarrassed by the whole thing. I thought to myself that feeling could be good if it had an elevated aim; but it could be devastating if it meant taking bad things for granted. I wondered how long it would take people on both sides to see a change.
Eventually, I went to Europe to train and to tour. The people of Scandinavia were especially warm and receptive to my concerts. In fact, while in Finland, I met Kosti Vehanen who became my accompanist.
After three years, Kosti and I returned to the U.S. Because of the success of my tours in Europe, I was more accepted for my ability as a singer here in the States. That's not to say that the color of my skin never became an issue though. In fact, I remember a time when the entire country was talking about it.
It was just before Easter of 1939. I was to give a concert at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. The Hall was owned by a woman's group called the Daughter's of the American Revolution or DAR. Well, I was soon informed that the Hall couldn't be used by "one of my race". I felt both sad and ashamed. That kind of behavior stemmed from a lack of understanding.
Soon the news headlined across most newspapers that the First Lady, Mrs. Roosevelt had resigned from the DAR because of their decision. What a wonderful woman she was! She not only knew what was right; she knew to do the right thing. Later I learned that it was Mrs. Roosevelt who made the arrangements for me to sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
That Easter Sunday morning was one I shall never forget. There I stood before the great statue of Abraham Lincoln. I looked but I hardly saw. I listened but I hardly heard. My heart beat wildly as I looked out at the 75,000 people gathered as far as my eyes could see. I sang like I wanted Lincoln himself to hear me. So much had happened since he had walked the streets of Washington. Oh, but there is so much more to be done. So much more to be done.
Outline Marian Anderson
I. Introduction
- World's greatest contralto
- Arturo Toscanini
II. Childhood
- Born in Philadelphia
- Family
- Loved to sing in choirs
- Couldn't go to music school
III. Touring
- "Jim Crow" car
- Europe
- Scandinavia
- Kosti Vehanen
- Return to United States
IV. Easter Sunday 1939
-Denied concert at Constitution Hall
-DAR
- Mrs. Roosevelt resigns at DAR
- Sang at Lincoln Memorial
Props
Old-fashioned microphone
Newspaper;
Sources
Anderson, Marian. My Lord, What a Morning. New York: The Viking Press, 1956.
Marian Anderson: Famous Black People in American History. Edu-Cards Corp., 1970.
Vehanen, Kosti. Marian Anderson: A Portrait. Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, 1941.
Extension Activities
- Draw a picture of Marian Anderson singing in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
- Write a song or lyrics of a song that you'd give to Marian Anderson to sing.