Marian Anderson: An Accidental Civil Rights Advocate

Despite singer Marian Anderson’s reluctance to become involved in racial issues and the civil rights movement, her presence in the music world inevitably led to the breakdown of racial barriers. One of Anderson's most significant contributions was her performance at the Metropolitan Opera House, which made her the first African American to perform there.

• Marian Anderson Quotes

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Carl Van Vechten Collection.