Video from American Masters PBS
Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands - Full Documentary
"Discover an international singer who captivated royalty in Europe and defied the conscience of 1939 America. Watch rare archival footage and hear audio recordings exploring her life and career from the Metropolitan Opera to the State Department." from the video introduction
"Marian Anderson (born February 27, 1897, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died April 8, 1993, Portland, Oregon) was an American singer, one of the finest contraltos of her time. Her 1939 Easter Sunday concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial – after being denied the right to sing at Constitution Hall because of her race – became one of the defining moments of the Civil Rights Movement.
Anderson displayed vocal talent as a child, but her family could not afford to pay for formal training. From the age of six, she was tutored in the choir of the Union Baptist Church, where she sang parts written for bass, alto, tenor, and soprano voices. Members of the congregation raised funds for her to attend a music school for a year. At 19 she became a pupil of Giuseppe Boghetti, who was so impressed by her talent that he gave her free lessons for a year. In 1925 she entered a contest with 300 competitors and won first prize, a recital at Lewisohn Stadium in New York City with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Her appearance in August 1925 was a great success..." from the article: Marian Anderson