The World's Greatest Contralto
by Babette Albin

As you read the story, write your questions and ideas about it on another sheet of paper. Then complete the next page.

"Come and hear the baby contralto," the advertisement read. The baby was Marian Anderson and she was only eight. Marian Anderson was born in 1902 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By the time she was six she was singing in the junior choir of her church. When she was eight she taught herself to read music and play the piano. In junior high school Marian took voice lessons and sang for local churches and other groups.

In 1925 Marian entered a singing contest. To her surprise she won. The large audience at her recital responded with thunderous applause. But in spite of this success, the racism and segregation in the United States at that time meant that bookings were few and far between. So when Marian won an award to study in Germany, she jumped at the chance. For the next five years, she sang in countries all over Europe.

In 1936, Marian was invited to sing at the White House for President and Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt. After that, she sang in concert halls all across the country. If the hall was segregated, she made a point of bowing first to the African American audience.

In 1954 Marian Anderson became the first African American to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. At the end of her historic performance there was a standing ovation.

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