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April 13, 2009 in City
D.C. concert honors history
Marian Anderson songs re-enacted
Wearing Marian Anderson’s gown, Denyce Graves performs.
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WASHINGTON – More than 2,000 people gathered Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial for a concert honoring the 70th anniversary of Marian Anderson’s historic performance there in 1939.
Because of the color of her skin, Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform at nearby Constitution Hall and local high school. So, instead, the opera singer sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in April 1939 to a crowd of 75,000 blacks and whites standing together.
In the Sunday afternoon sunshine, African-American opera star Denyce Graves performed three of the same songs Anderson sang 70 years ago: “America (My Country, ’Tis of Thee),” “O, Mio Fernando” and “Ave Maria.”
Wearing one of Anderson’s dresses, Graves called her predecessor “one of my greatest heroes.”
“It is the honor of my life and my career to be celebrating this day of freedom with you,” she told the audience.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell recited excerpts from President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address. Afterward he remarked on Lincoln’s famous call to heal the nation’s wounds after the Civil War, “with malice toward none, with charity for all,” telling the audience they should aspire to those words.
The Chicago Children’s Choir, women’s a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock and the U.S. Marine Band also performed.
Introducing a number called “Would You Harbor Me,” a member of Sweet Honey in the Rock said the song was “written because this country has been a harborer to so many, but at the same time it has rejected so many.”
Those words highlight Anderson’s own story. She grew up in poverty in South Philadelphia, but became famous in the 1930s, performing for royalty and in major concert halls in Europe, New York and Philadelphia.
When her manager tried to book Anderson at Constitution Hall, the largest venue in segregated Washington at the time, she was rejected by the Daughters of the American Revolution, which owned the hall and prohibited African-Americans from performing there. The district’s school board also turned her away from singing at a school auditorium.
Following the hourlong performance about 200 people were sworn in as U.S. citizens, symbolizing the rights all Americans are guaranteed.
© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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jenniewillardson on April 17 at 1:08 a.m.
As Washington State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (WSSDAR) Historian, I would like to add information to the AP article “D.C. Concert Honors History: Marian Anderson songs re-enacted” printed in the Spokesman on Monday April 13th. On Easter Sunday April 12, 2009, DAR joined the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission in hosting the Tribute to Marian Anderson on the 70th Anniversary of Lincoln Memorial Concert, which was followed by a reception at DAR Headquarters. Please visit the DAR website http://www.dar.org/natsociety/content.cfm?ID=1269&hd=n
for a full account of the 2009 concert and DAR’s apology for their 1939 refusal of Miss Anderson.
In 1943, DAR President General Helene Pouch invited Miss Anderson to perform in a benefit concert for war relief. That concert was the first of several performances Marion Anderson gave at DAR’s Constitution Hall. Miss Anderson launched her 1964 farewell tour from Constitution Hall. In 1992, DAR presented Ms. Anderson with the DAR Centennial Medallion, which recognizes women who gave outstanding service to the nation. The US Postal Service and Marian Anderson’s Family launched the 2005 Marian Anderson Stamp at Constitution Hall. It is unfortunate that the media remembers only the negative effects of segregation and leaves out how organization like DAR overcame their bigotries.
DAR has done extensive research on African Americans and American Indians who fought in the American Revolution. In 2002 DAR hosted a Conference on the Forgotten Patriots - African American and American Indian Patriots of the Revolutionary War attended by many notable historians and has published a book now in its second edition Forgotten Patriots - African American and American Indian Patriots of the Revolutionary War: A Guide to Service, Sources, and Studies.
Today’s DAR is a service organization that welcomes women of every color, creed or national origin. The only qualification is that she has at least one ancestor who participated on the patriot (American) side of the American Revolution. Donna M. Santistevan Elin was the DAR National Outstanding Junior in 2004. Mrs. Elin is Hispanic on her father’s side and has patriot ancestors who sent money from New Mexico to fund the American Revolution. Mrs. Elin is currently National Constitution Week Chairman. Our WSSDAR 2007 Outstanding Junior Vanessa Roundsley is Hispanic on her mother’s side. Men our welcome to join Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and children can join Children of the American Revolution (CAR).
Sincerely,
Jennie Willardson
WSSDAR Historian