How a racist decision led to the most important concert in American civil rights history

The 1939 Marian Anderson Easter Concert (Washington, D.C.)

On April 9, 1939, Marian Anderson sang at the Lincoln Memorial after the Daughters of the American Revolution refused her access to Constitution Hall because of her race.

The famous Black opera singer faced 75,000 people on that Easter Sunday while millions more listened on radio.

This concert happened when Washington D.C. was still strictly segregated. Black Americans could not enter many public places. What began as a simple concert became a powerful stand against racism in America.

The event marked an early moment in civil rights history, long before the movement grew nationwide.

A Stage Built For History

Workers built a wooden platform over the Lincoln Memorial steps for Anderson’s performance. The Department of the Interior set up the entire event under Secretary Harold Ickes’ guidance.

Six microphones lined the front of the stage to carry Anderson’s voice to both the crowd and radio listeners across America. The stage faced east toward the Washington Monument with the audience spread across the National Mall.

The marble chamber of the Lincoln Memorial behind Anderson helped her voice project over the open grounds, solving the problem of outdoor acoustics for classical singing.

Ickes Introduces A Moment For The Ages

Interior Secretary Harold Ickes stepped to the microphones at 5:00 p.m. and set the tone for what would be more than just a concert. “In this great auditorium under the sky, all of us are free,” Ickes told the mixed-race crowd.

As a former Chicago NAACP president, he directly challenged racism by adding, “Genius draws no color line.” Ickes connected the moment to Lincoln’s legacy: “We stand at the base of this memorial to the Great Emancipator while tribute is given by a daughter of the race from which he struck the chains of slavery.”

The Opening Notes Of “America”

Anderson began with “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” also known as “America.” This choice carried deep meaning in a nation still divided by race laws. She changed the familiar lyrics from “of thee I sing” to “to thee we sing,” showing her belief that achievements come through community effort.

Despite the pressure, her voice stayed strong and clear. The sight of a Black woman singing about American freedom at Lincoln’s memorial created a powerful image. Her rich voice filled the Mall as she sang words of liberty that many Americans could not yet fully enjoy.

A Sea Of Faces On The National Mall

The crowd of 75,000 people was the largest ever gathered at the Lincoln Memorial up to that time. Black and white citizens stood together throughout the Mall, something rarely seen in segregated Washington.

People filled the grounds from the Lincoln Memorial all the way to the Washington Monument. Government workers, students, families and people from all backgrounds attended.

This free concert welcomed everyone, openly defying Washington’s strict segregation laws. The diverse audience showed what could be possible beyond America’s racial divisions.

Vehanen At The Piano

Finnish pianist Kosti Vehanen accompanied Anderson on a grand piano placed on the stage. Vehanen had worked as Anderson’s regular pianist for ten years, touring with her across Europe and America.

The pianist kept perfect time with Anderson despite challenging outdoor conditions. Wind and changing temperatures made piano playing difficult, but Vehanen adjusted skillfully. These two performers alone created the historic musical moment.

Their partnership showed remarkable communication, with Vehanen following Anderson’s every subtle change in tempo and expression.

Classical Selections Showcase Mastery

After “America,” Anderson sang “O Mio Fernando” from Donizetti’s opera La Favorite, proving her classical abilities. This Italian aria required great vocal control and emotion. She followed with Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” one of her signature pieces.

Her performance highlighted the three-octave range that had made her famous worldwide. These selections showed why conductor Arturo Toscanini had called hers “a voice heard once in a hundred years.”

Anderson’s skill matched any classical singer of her time, regardless of race.

Spirituals Honor Cultural Heritage

Anderson sang three spirituals in the second half, connecting her classical training with Black musical traditions. “Gospel Train,” arranged by Henry Burleigh, was first. Burleigh had helped bring spirituals to concert halls years earlier.

She then performed “Trampin'” by Edward Boatner, a song about the soul’s journey toward heaven. Her third spiritual was “My Soul is Anchored in the Lord,” arranged by Florence Price, the first Black woman to gain fame as a classical composer.

These songs, created by enslaved people, now rang out at the memorial to the president who had fought to end slavery.

An Emotional Conclusion

Anderson closed with “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen,” tears visible in her eyes. This spiritual, born from the suffering of slavery, took on new meaning in the face of ongoing discrimination.

The song spoke of enduring hardship, reflecting Anderson’s own struggles against racial barriers throughout her career. Many in the crowd became emotional as the final notes echoed across the Mall.

The 30-minute performance ended with Anderson giving a simple bow to thunderous applause. Her dignity and composure never wavered despite the powerful emotions of the moment.

The Nation Tunes In

NBC radio broadcast the concert live to millions of Americans gathered around their radios. This allowed people across the country to witness the historic event regardless of where they lived.

The radio announcer avoided mentioning racial discrimination, instead claiming Anderson performed at the Lincoln Memorial “because she was unable to get an auditorium to accommodate the tremendous audience.”

Technical limitations cut off the final spiritual from the recording. For many Americans in small towns and rural areas, this broadcast was their first exposure to both classical music and civil rights issues.

Easter Sunday Atmosphere

The concert took place in the chilly evening air, with temperatures in the low 50s. Easter Sunday added symbolic meaning to a performance focused on renewal and change. April 9 also marked the anniversary of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox in 1865, ending the Civil War.

Photographers and film crews captured the event from many angles, creating images that would later define the early civil rights struggle. The afternoon sun cast long shadows as Anderson sang, with golden light illuminating her against the darkening sky and the marble memorial behind her.

Visiting Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial is at 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW, Washington, DC 20037, at the west end of the National Mall. Inside, you can see the 19-foot marble statue of Abraham Lincoln and read the carved inscriptions of his famous speeches.

Look for the small marker on the steps showing where Marian Anderson performed in 1939.

From the memorial, you can easily walk to other important sites like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Food and drinks are not allowed inside the memorial chamber, and visitors should keep voices low out of respect.

Read More from WhenInYourState.com:

• 11 historic places to hear the Declaration of Independence on July 4th
• The Whitman Massacre by Cayuse Indians That Sealed Oregon’s Path to Statehood
• The pig that nearly triggered a war between America and Britain in 1859