Today In History - 8 April

Genious draws no color line!

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Marian Anderson died on 8 April 1993. She was a very rare contralto voiced Afro-American singer.

She was invited to Harvard for a concert in 1939. She was world famous so a very big hall was needed. Constitution Hall was a suitable place but she was denied the right to perform at Constitution Hall because of her color. Instead, and at the urging of Elenor Roosevelt, she was permitted to perform at the Lincoln Memorial to 75.000 people.

She was invited to the stage with these words:" Genious draws no color line"

In 1942, Marian Anderson did receive an invitation from the DAR to perform at Constitution Hall.

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