Marian Anderson Commemorative Stamp
Today, January 27, 2005, the US Postal Service releases a new postage stamp in the “Black Heritage” series. It honors the late Marian Anderson (1897-1993).
Marian Anderson was one of the greatest contralto singers of our time and culture. She was recognized as a gifted singer at a very young age (her church publicised her talent when she was 10, according to one source). In 1921 she graduated from high school… she applied to an all-white music school in Philadelphia (where she had grown up) and was turned down because she was “colored.” Fortunately, she was able to study with voice teachers from 1916 - 1925 who saw her talent first, rather than her skin color.
In 1925 she won first place in a competition at New York Philharmonic, over more than 300 other singers. She debuted at Carnegie Hall in 1928.
Ms. Anderson is important in my own family’s oral history. You see, my maternal grandmother attended college with funds she raised through various scholarships and grants. One of the places that supplied her with funds was the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). You had to research your family tree and validate that you had some relative who had participated in the American Revolution, to become a member (and thus become eligible for the scholarship). Grandma’s family came from England in the 1600’s, at least one small branch of it, so she documented that line and was able to benefit from the DAR funding.
Well, in 1939, Howard University tried to schedule Marian Anderson to perform at Constitution Hall. This building was owned by the DAR, and they denied the request for the specific reason that Ms. Anderson was black. Eleanor Roosevelt, then the First Lady of the United States, was on the board of the DAR at the time. She quit the organization in protest as did a host of other visible women. My Grandmother also quit (on principle, rather than as a public act).
It’s no surprise that europe (in the 1920’s and 30’s) gave Marian Anderson more welcoming audiences than the US, to start her world-class career. The same was true for Josephine Baker (dancer, singer, ukulele player), who was about 10 years younger than Ms. Anderson. (Ms. Baker, born in the USA and with both Native-American and African-American roots, made France her home for most of her adult life.)
May you rest in peace, Marian Anderson! (I’m off to buy some stamps, on the very first day they are available. I’ve never done that before, but I’m very excited to have stamps graced by this fine woman’s likeness.)
I’ll end with a quote from Ms. Anderson herself:
“There are many persons ready to do what is right because in their hearts they know it is right. But they hesitate, waiting for the other fellow to make the first move–and he, in turn, waits for you. The minute a person whose word means a great deal dares to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow. Not everyone can be turned aside from meanness and hatred, but the great majority of Americans is heading in that direction. I have a great belief in the future of my people and my country.”