Why Marian Anderson Became an Activist

     Why Marian Anderson became an Civil Rights Activist is simple, she didn't choose is to but was forced to go through it because of her career. Anderson became a public icon when she chose her career as a singer and performer. She put herself out in the world as a singer with the hope of becoming famous, which would draw attention to her. She symbolized a big step forward for blacks in society, so she was grouped as an activist for Civil Rights. Marian Anderson just simply loved to sing, but didn't do it to support rights or stand up for what she believed in. She wanted nothing to do with any of that. She liked a quiet life offstage, and didn't like becoming the center of attention, but the government made the connection between her and activism for blacks, which made her a major public icon. This changed her life a lot because all of the focus was on her because of her fame. 


     A motivator who helped Anderson get to the climax of her career was Eleanor Roosevelt, a supporter of Marian Anderson.  The DAR, The Daughter of the American Revolution, were women who have ancestors that were related to bringing independence to America. This group was segregationilists and didn't want to have an integrated audience within Constitution Hall. They refused to book Anderson for a concert there and Eleanor Roosevelt thought that was so wrong that she resigned from the DAR. Eleanor helped  Anderson by putting together the concert at the Lincoln Memorial for her. This performance served as a big day for the beginnings of the Civil Rights movements because is triggered the civil rights movements to come in the future. Marian Anderson served the country by resisting issues thrown at her, and served as a Civil Rights Activist because she had too in order to pursue her career.

 

Marian Anderson with Eleanor Roosevelt

ABC-CLIO