Though she’s considered one of the greatest contralto singers in the world, Marian Anderson was often denied the opportunity to show off her unique vocal range because of her race. However, things started to change in 1957, when she went on a 12-nation tour sponsored by the Department of State and the American National Theatre and Academy. She documented the experience in her autobiography, My Lord What a Morning. In 1963, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her last major accomplishment before her death was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy’s in 1991.
Marian Anderson: Black History Month Spotlight
