"I was driving to work one day in 1993 and I heard the news that Marian Anderson had died. It got me thinking about what an honorable person she was, and when I got home that night, I started to work out this song."
-- Brad Page

Marian Anderson, one of the most reknown concert vocalists of her time, had planned to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. on Easter Sunday 1939. When the Daughters of the American Revolution, who owned Constitution Hall, realized a black woman had been booked in their hall, they refused to allow her to perform.

In response to an outpouring of public support, Marian Anderson was formally invited to perform from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on April 9th. 75,000 people turned out for the free concert (the largest to date ever assembled at the Memorial) while millions more listed to the radio broadcast. Marian Anderson began the performance with a stirring rendition of "My Country 'Tis Of Thee".

Marian Anderson's performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial remains a seminal moment in American history and stands as a touchstone in the struggle for racial equality. In July 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt presented Marian Anderson with the Spingarn Medal of the NAACP, and in 1957 she became the first African-American to sing with the New York Metropolitan Opera. She was named a delegate to the United Nations in 1958 and received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Marian Anderson, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

"What Marian Anderson did was so powerful, and it really spoke to me. By raising her voice to sing with such dignity, she did more for the Civil Rights movement than any political action. It's such a great example of the power of song. I wish we could all act with such grace."
-- Brad Page

To Learn more about Marian Anderson, explore these links:
Marian Anderson: How a Woman of Color Broke Racial Lines
The National Women's Hall Of Fame: Marian Anderson
The African American Almanac: Marian Anderson
Photo: Marian Anderson performing at the Lincoln Memorial, 1939
Marian Anderson: A Life in Song
Penn Library - Marian Anderson Center
Women in History - Marian Anderson biography
Amazon.com book listing - What I Had Was Singing: The Story of Marian Anderson

"Marian on The Steps" © 1998 Brad Page