What problems did Marian Anderson have?

Answer 1

Marian Anderson was a black singer and the biggest problem throughout her performing life was racism. Ms. Anderson was a gifted songstress throughout her life and eventually received invitation to sing and go on tours at black colleges and churches in the South. William 'Billy' King always accompanied her and was her manager.

• Ms. Anderson held a concert at New York's Town Hall, but it was poorly attended and critics found her voice lacking.
• Shortly after she won a singing contest through the Philadelphia Philharmonic Society in 1925. An important impresario Arthur Judson put her under contract.
• In 1928 she performed a solo recital at Carnegie Hall and got rave reviews by the New York Times, but she was still performing mainly for black audiences.
• While America snubbed her because she was black, Europe embraced her and in 1933 - 1934 she performed 142 concerts in Scandinavia alone.
• In 1939 her Manager tried to rent Washington D.C.'s Constitution Hall, but was told no dates were available. Washington was segregated and even the hall had segregated seating. In 1935 the hall instated 'concert by white artists only.' The hall's director told her Manager, 'No Negro will ever appear in this hall while I am Manager.' Because of this the public was outraged, famous musicians protested and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution who owned the hall. Roosevelt along with Ms. Anderson's Manager and Walter White of the National Assoc., for the Advancement of Colored People encouraged Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes to arrange a free open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for Easter Sunday. On April 9, Ms. Anderson sang before 75,000 people and millions of radio listeners both black and white.
• Ms. Anderson gave a private concert at the White House where President Franklin D. Roosevelt was entertaining King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Britain.
• In January, 1955, Ms. Anderson debuted at New York Metropolitan Opera; the first black singer as a regular company member.
• In 1957 after she toured India and the Far East as a goodwill ambassador through the U.S. State Dept., and the American National Theater and Academy President Dwight Eisenhower appointed her as a delegate to the United Nations Humans Rights Committee. She sat at his inauguration and also at John F. Kennedy's in 1961.
• In 1963 she sang at the March on Washington for Job and Freedom.
• In the late 40's she insisted that vertical seating in segregated cities meaning all blacks could sit anywhere in the theater. For the first time in American history blacks were allowed to sit near the orchestra. If that city did not comply she refused to sing.

Ms. Anderson refused to fight against racism she received. In Europe she was welcomed at the finest hotels and restaurants, but in the U.S. she received third or fourth class accommodations and could only enter restaurants for blacks. In the South she stayed with friends. Taking a train or eating at a restaurant were often difficult. She would eat meals in her room and traveled in drawing rooms on night trains. This is a famous quote she made regarding the racism towards her: also she joined her church choir at age 12 and she never had sex ever 'If I were inclined to be combative, I suppose I might insist on making an issue of these 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.'