in refusing Constitution Hall to a great artist .... You had an opportunity to lead in an enlightened way, and it seems to me your organization has failed." Marian believed strongly in the civil rights movement. She knew firsthand the pain that racism caused. She understood that the way the controversy with the DAR was resolved would be a milestone for civil rights. Despite public outcry, the DAR would not back down and let Marian sing. With Mrs. Roosevelt's support, the Secretary of the Interior arranged a special concert for Marian, to be held at the Lincoln Memorial. Seventy-five thousand people attended. In many ways, Marian's concert was considered to be America's first civil rights rally. That night, she took a stand against discrimination and for equality. The first words she sang were: "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing." The Open-Hearted Way Marian realized that equality in the United States would be achieved when every person was willing to stand up for what is right. As a public figure, she felt a responsibility to set an example. After the 1939 incident, she did her part by turning down concerts for segregated audiences. "The minute a person whose word means a great deal dares to take the openhearted and courageous way," she said, ''many others follow." As Marian's career progressed, America changed. She performed in many prestigious locations, including Constitution Hall, where she sang after the DAR changed its policies. By 1954, segregation was declared unconstitutional. The Civil Rights Act was signed into law in 1964, the year Marian retired from performing. By then, many of the barriers she'd had to fight through were disappearing. Marian's farewell tour began in front of an admiring crowd at Constitution Hall. Copyright © 2005 Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio. Photo credits for "Marian Anderson": Marian Anderson Collection, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. What is the article mainly about? civil rights songs that Marian Anderson liked to sing Marian Anderson’s friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt how Marian Anderson learned to sing how segregation affected Marian Anderson’s career Why did Marian Anderson think she would be accepted to sing at Constitution Hall in 1939? because she believed the DAR would consider only her musical skill because she had sung at Constitution Hall before she went to Europe because she thought that Eleanor Roosevelt would recommend her
in refusing Constitution Hall to a great artist .... You had an opportunity to lead in an enlightened way, and it seems to me your organization has failed." Marian believed strongly in the civil rights movement. She knew firsthand the pain that racism caused. She understood that the way the controversy with the DAR was resolved would be a milestone for civil rights. Despite public outcry, the DAR would not back down and let Marian sing. With Mrs. Roosevelt's support, the Secretary of the Interior arranged a special concert for Marian, to be held at the Lincoln Memorial. Seventy-five thousand people attended. In many ways, Marian's concert was considered to be America's first civil rights rally. That night, she took a stand against discrimination and for equality. The first words she sang were: "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing." The Open-Hearted Way Marian realized that equality in the United States would be achieved when every person was willing to stand up for what is right. As a public figure, she felt a responsibility to set an example. After the 1939 incident, she did her part by turning down concerts for segregated audiences. "The minute a person whose word means a great deal dares to take the openhearted and courageous way," she said, ''many others follow." As Marian's career progressed, America changed. She performed in many prestigious locations, including Constitution Hall, where she sang after the DAR changed its policies. By 1954, segregation was declared unconstitutional. The Civil Rights Act was signed into law in 1964, the year Marian retired from performing. By then, many of the barriers she'd had to fight through were disappearing. Marian's farewell tour began in front of an admiring crowd at Constitution Hall. Copyright © 2005 Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio. Photo credits for "Marian Anderson": Marian Anderson Collection, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. What is the article mainly about? civil rights songs that Marian Anderson liked to sing Marian Anderson’s friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt how Marian Anderson learned to sing how segregation affected Marian Anderson’s career Why did Marian Anderson think she would be accepted to sing at Constitution Hall in 1939? because she believed the DAR would consider only her musical skill because she had sung at Constitution Hall before she went to Europe because she thought that Eleanor Roosevelt would recommend her