April 9
Marian Anderson Performs at Lincoln Memorial
When the Daughters of the American Revolution barred African American contralto Marian Anderson from Constitution Hall, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's resignation and Interior Secretary Harold Ickes's intervention led to an Easter Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial that reached a vast national audience.
Summary
In the segregated United States of the 1930s, African American contralto Marian Anderson faced routine barriers despite her international acclaim as one of the era's greatest vocalists. When the Daughters of the American Revolution denied her request to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., due to her race, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the organization in protest. Organizers arranged an alternative outdoor concert at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939. Anderson performed before an integrated crowd of approximately 75,000 people, opening with "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." The event drew national radio broadcast and newsreel coverage, highlighting ongoing racial discrimination.
Context
In the 1930s the United States remained deeply segregated under Jim Crow laws and customs that restricted African Americans from many public venues, hotels, and performance spaces. Marian Anderson, born in Philadelphia in 1897, had overcome early obstacles to become one of the world's leading contraltos, performing to acclaim across Europe and the United States yet still encountering routine refusals at home. Washington, D.C., reflected these national patterns, with Constitution Hall operated by the Daughters of the American Revolution maintaining a whites-only policy for its stage.
What Happened
In early 1939, Howard University and Anderson's manager Sol Hurok sought to book Constitution Hall for her annual Washington recital but were turned down explicitly because of her race. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, a DAR member, resigned from the organization in protest and the story quickly entered national headlines. Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes then secured permission for an outdoor concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, a site on federal property.
Aftermath
On Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, Anderson performed before an integrated crowd estimated at 75,000 people that stretched from the memorial down the Mall toward the Washington Monument. She opened with "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," sang classical pieces including Schubert's "Ave Maria," and closed with the spiritual "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen." Secretary Ickes introduced her, declaring that genius knows no color line, while the event was carried live on national radio and filmed for newsreels.
Legacy
The concert immediately amplified public awareness of racial barriers in the arts and public accommodations, serving as an early high-profile demonstration of nonviolent protest against segregation. It later became a touchstone for the civil rights movement, referenced by organizers of the 1963 March on Washington and cited in discussions of cultural desegregation that followed World War II.
Why It Matters
The concert amplified national awareness of Jim Crow segregation and inspired civil rights activism, including later Freedom Rides and marches at the same site. It demonstrated the power of public performance to challenge institutional racism and contributed to the momentum that led to desegregation efforts in public facilities and the arts.
Related Questions
Why was Marian Anderson denied the Constitution Hall stage?
The Daughters of the American Revolution enforced a whites-only policy for performers at the venue.
What role did Eleanor Roosevelt play in the controversy?
She resigned from the DAR in protest, drawing national attention to the racial discrimination.
Who arranged the Lincoln Memorial concert?
Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes secured federal permission and organized the event.
How large was the audience and how was it reached?
Approximately 75,000 people attended in person on an integrated basis, with millions more hearing the live radio broadcast.
What songs did Anderson perform?
She opened with "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," included Schubert's "Ave Maria," and closed with the spiritual "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen."
Related Portfolio Site
Free Speech Atlas: Landmark event involving denial of performance venue and public concert on free expression and civil rights.
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Sources
- On This Day - What Happened on April 9, Britannica. Accessed 2026-07-09.