Literary Nonfiction by Zayden Jiménez

Book Citation

jimenzay000 — 2025-09-19 18:34:22 UTC

Freedman, Russell. The voice that challenged a nation: Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights. Clarion Books. 2004.

Marian Anderson starts her music career, 1912

jimenzay000 — 2025-09-23 15:50:47 UTC

Ever since she figured out how talented her voice was her friend "Roland Hayes" told her to take singing courses, unfortunately she was declined because she was colored. Once her neighbor Mary Saunders Patterson heard of this she insisted on teaching Anderson free of charge due to funding from baptist churches.

Georgia State Industrial College Concert, December 1917

jimenzay000 — 2025-09-23 15:57:41 UTC

One of her first concerts, we know this because in the story "The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" the author Russell Freedman states on page 15 "In 1917, right before Christmas, she was invited to take part in a concert at the Georgia State Industrial College."

Marian participates in a sponsorship competition, August 26th 1925

jimenzay000 — 2025-09-24 17:04:17 UTC

In the midst of all the criticism Giuseppe Boghetti, Marian's demanding voice coach, enters Marian in a sponsored competition, in the Lewisohn Stadium, and she will be singing "O mio Fernando" from Gaeteno Donizetti.

Marian wins the sponsorship! August 26th, 1925

jimenzay000 — 2025-09-26 18:40:48 UTC

Her musical talent absolutely wrecked the competition, skipping the finals and taking the win. I found this out because in the story "The voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights", on page 27, Boghetti received a phone call and then he stood up and exclaimed "We have won! There will be no finalists."

Marian's 6 week Chicago opera, 1919

jimenzay000 — 2025-09-29 16:48:17 UTC

The impact of her six week opera course in Chicago had an impact for decades, because of how impressed the city was through her rendition of a spiritual folk song titled "Crucifixon".

Marian has virtually performed for every major European city, 1930-1935

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-02 15:50:11 UTC

In the early 1930s, Marian Anderson would go on to earn much more fame and money for her family. I believe this because in the story "The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights" by Russell Freedman on page 39, he states "She sang in virtually every major European city-in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels, in Geneva, Vienna, Budapest, and Prague. She continues to tour in Italy, appearing in Turin, Milan, Venice, and even Rome."

How her trips in the early 1930s impacted us today

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-02 15:54:16 UTC

DAR bans all colored artists including Anderson, 1936

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-07 15:58:58 UTC

In 1936, the DAR completely banned all colored artists from performing. Howard University, the college Anderson went to, wants to protest it and in response they mass criticize, and the treasurer of Howard University V.D Johnson ran an editorial titled "We Must Hear Marian Anderson Sing"

Marian Anderson is born, February 27th, 1897

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-13 16:43:52 UTC

The birth of a voice the nation has never heard before, Marian Anderson. Born on February 27th, 1897, Marian had 2 younger sisters by the name of Alyse and Ethel. I know this because according to the text "The Voice that Challenged a Nation", page 6, Russell states "Marian lived with her parents, John and Anna Anderson, and with 2 younger sisters, in South Philadelphia, where she was born on February 27th, 1897."

President Roosevelt and his wife plan to have Marian sing at Lincoln Memorial, 1939

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-13 16:54:34 UTC

In response to being banned by the DAR, president Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt planned a huge concert at the Lincoln memorial on April 9th, 1939. I know because the story "The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights", the author says "Ickes announced that the Lincoln Memorial would be the site of a concert by Marian Anderson on Easter Sunday, April 9th, 1939."

Marian sings at Lincoln Memorial

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-14 15:58:40 UTC

The biggest concert Marian will ever sing at is starting, 75,000 people were there in person, waiting for her to sing. After meeting the Interior secretary Harold L. Ickes, she begins to sing. I know because according to the text "The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights" the author Freedman says "In the back were the Tidal Basin and Washington Monument. Underneath was the grass. To the side were the beautiful trees, the ceiling was the sky, and in front of her were those wonderful stairs going up to the Lincoln Memorial. And stood there Anderson... The highlights of that day were the first words she sang. Closing her eyes, she began to sing."

Marian gets awarded the NAACP's Springarn Medal, July 2nd, 1939

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-16 15:45:33 UTC

After performing her Lincoln Memorial concert, it made history in the struggle for equal rights and for musical artists. About 3 months later on July 2nd, 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt presents Marian Anderson with the Springarn medal. I know because in the book "The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights", the author Russell Freedman captioned "First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt presents Marian Anderson with the NAACP Springarn Medal, July 2nd, 1939" underneath the picture shown on page 70.

Marian gets married to Orpheus Fisher, 1943

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-16 15:52:38 UTC

Asides from accomplishing huge milestones in her career, she also accomplished something in her personal life. Marian Anderson wanted to get married only well in her 40s, so alas, she gets married to Orpheus Fisher sometime in 1943.

Marian's impact on her fame from the Lincoln Memorial

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-16 15:57:43 UTC

Marian finds a new accompanist, 1940

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-16 18:45:06 UTC

Kosti Vehanen, Marian's old accompanist retired to his home in Finland. He got replaced for someone by the name of Franz Rupp, a Jewish pianist who fled from Germany during WW2. He would maintain to be her pianist for 25 years!

Marian receives her honorary doctorates, June 1938

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-22 15:25:30 UTC

It was only a matter of time before she would get a doctorates for her music career, but an honorary doctorates is even better. During this time period Marian has been singing for 26 years! She got her honorary doctorates from Howard University and the congratulations of those who attended the ceremony, sometime in June 1938.

Marian's 10 week goodwill tour, 1957

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-22 15:52:01 UTC

Anderson got to go on a 10 week tour in India and the far east as a goodwill ambassador by the U.S State Department. And being accompanied by a CBS television crew that filmed the tour. In this tour she got to visit a total of 12 countries. I know because the book "The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights", the author stated "In 1957 the U.S State Department sent her as a goodwill ambassador on a 10 week tour of India and the far east" (77-78).

Marian caused the "white artist only" rule to be revoked, 1952

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-22 18:51:11 UTC

Marian Anderson broke a massive barrier that really caused problems for certain individuals. Marian finally caused the DAR to revoke the rule that said "white artists only" to perform music in the Constitution Hall, the biggest Opera house in the U.S at the time. I found this out by page 82, in the story "The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights", where the author states "Times were changing, and Marian Anderson was helping them change. In 1952 the "white artists only" clause was removed from the Constitution Hall contracts."

Marian was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1963

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-23 18:45:29 UTC

Even over 20 years later after her Lincoln Memorial she's still getting awards. In 1963, Marian Anderson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Marian participates in the Civil Rights March on Washington, 1963

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-23 20:35:38 UTC

After her tour, she then sang at the Lincoln Memorial for the third time. This time she is singing for the historic "Civil Rights March". This is the second major historical civil rights movement she's participated in.

Marian sings on the steps of Lincoln Memorial again

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-23 20:38:37 UTC

Marian Anderson is now back at the Lincoln Memorial steps. She's singing at memorial services for her old friend in arms of Harold Ickes. This is the second time she's performed at the Lincoln Memorial, not as popular as the one in 1939 however.

Marian Anderson dies passes away, 1993

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-23 20:40:16 UTC

On April 8th, 1993, Marian Anderson would pass away at the age of 96. One day short of the 54th anniversary of the Easter concert at the Lincoln Memorial. I know because in the story "The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights" freedman stated "She died on April 8th, 1993, at the age of 96, one day short of the Easter concert at the Lincoln Memorial's 54th anniversary" (88).

Marian accepts the first Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award, 1984

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-23 20:44:01 UTC

Even while retired Marian Anderson is still getting huge medals or awards. At the age of 87 she accepted the first Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award. And the craziest part is during this phase of Marian's life she's in a wheelchair, she needed help to get out of the wheelchair to even appraise the award.

A short video for you to watch

jimenzay000 — 2025-10-28 00:39:01 UTC