A groundbreaking American artist
Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia on February 27, 1897. Recognized for her remarkable contralto voice, she pursued an international career as a concert singer at a time when racial discrimination restricted opportunities for Black artists.
In 1939 Anderson performed at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., an event remembered as a landmark in American cultural and civil rights history.
In January 1955 she became the first African American singer to perform a principal role at New York's Metropolitan Opera, appearing as Ulrica in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera.
Legacy of public service
Anderson served as a United States goodwill representative and as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. In 1963 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
She died on April 8, 1993. The Marian Anderson Award, established in 1998, honors performing artists whose contributions beyond the stage reflect the same commitment to humanity.