Deprecated function: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in Drupal\Component\Utility\Html::cleanCssIdentifier() (line 113 of core/lib/Drupal/Component/Utility/Html.php).

Washington's prominent figures listen to Marian Anderson's singing. Washington, DC, April 9. Behind Marian Anderson, the heroic statue of Lincoln; beside her, Cabinet members and Senators; before her a crowd of 75,000 black and white listeners. Left to ri

Rationale By
Addison Hill
Link/Citation

Harris & Ewing. “Washington's prominent figures listen to Marian Anderson's singing. Washington, DC, April 9. Behind Marian Anderson, the heroic statue of Lincoln; beside her, Cabinet members and Senators; before her a crowd of 75,000 black and white listeners. Left to right - Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Mrs. Morgenthau, Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, [...] at the piano, Marian Anderson. 4-9-39.” 1939. Photograph. The Library of Congress. Washington, DC. https://www.loc.gov/resource/hec.26452/

Source Type:
Photographs and Prints
Suggested Grade Level and Audience: Grade 4
Instructional value of primary source for the curriculum and/or classroom

This primary source gives students the opportunity to visualize an important moment in US history and learn about an iconic Black artist and historical figure. Seeing this photograph and the photograph of the crowd (linked below) can help elementary students feel more connected to history and help them visualize an audience of 75,000 people. Learning about the context of this photograph can help students understand the history of racial discrimination in the United States as well as powerful moments of solidarity and resistance.

Summary/Description

This photograph can deepen students’ understanding of the political and racial contexts of the United States prior to the Civil Rights Movement. Marian Anderson’s story could be part of a unit on biographies, an exploration of the arts as a vehicle for social change and activism, or the history of American music. Teachers can offer context on the prevalence of racial segregation and discrimination during this time period to help students understand why the Daughters of the American Revolution denied Marian Anderson the opportunity to sing at Constitution Hall. This context can help students understand the significance of such a large, racially diverse crowd taking part in a concert at the Lincoln Memorial. Teachers can give background on Abraham Lincoln or the political leadership of the time (since Eleanor Roosevelt was First Lady).

Context for the Primary Source

In this photo from the collection of photographer Harris & Ewing, Marian Anderson performs on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on April 9, 1939 (Easter Sunday). As noted by the caption, her audience includes 75,000 Black and white listeners as well as the Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of the Interior. A second photograph1 from the same collection offers additional context, calling the contralto’s performance “one of the most dramatic concerts seen in Washington.” The caption continues, “The concert was the culmination of the bitterest black-vs.-white contests since the World War. Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt resigned the DAR because of their refusal to allow her to sing in their Constitution Hall here.”

Focus Question(s)
  • Why is it significant for a Black musician to perform on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a racially diverse audience in 1939?
  • What does this photograph add to our understanding of Marian Anderson’s story? What does it teach us about US history?
  • How does a biography help us contextualize this photograph? What information does a person need to know in order to understand the historical context of this photograph?
  • What message does the writer of the caption send to the reader by focusing first on prominent political figures rather than Marian Anderson?
Standards Connections

Texas ELAR TEKS and Texas Social Studies TEKS  

4.6(B): generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information.

  • Students can have an opportunity to ask questions about the photograph, and they can look for similarities between this and any of the other photos in the same collection.

4.9(D)i: recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including: (i) the central idea with supporting evidence.

  • In Texas, 4th-grade students learn the seeds of Texas history, but this photo can be used to examine the larger context of racism in any state and students can start examining a photo as a nontraditional text. 

4.19(A): differentiate between, locate, and use valid primary and secondary sources such as technology; interviews; biographies; oral, print, and visual material; documents; and artifacts to acquire information about Texas.

  • This photo is from the late 1930s, and students can compare and contrast how different photos look today and can create graphic organizers to show the difference.
Suggested Teaching Approaches
  • Marian Anderson’s 1939 concert could be part of a unit of study on biographies, such as Pam Muñoz Ryan’s book When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson: The Voice of a Century. Teachers can pair the biography with actual photographs such as this one. This photograph can help students build background knowledge, which is especially important for emergent bilingual students or students struggling with comprehension.
  • After viewing the image, students could create a KWL (Know, Want to Know, Learn) chart. As they read the biography, they could use the chart to keep track of their thoughts and guide their discussion with a reading partner.
  • This photograph would pair well with video footage of Marian Anderson’s 1939 performance.
  • It would also be valuable to guide students in understanding Anderson’s impact on the Civil Rights Movement through continued study (see resources below).
Potential for Challenge
  • This photograph could be challenged by those who are uncomfortable acknowledging the history of racism and discrimination in the United States. The photograph depicts a concert held in response to the DAR rejecting Marian Anderson’s request to sing at Constitution Hall based on her race. Some may criticize teachers who choose to address race in the classroom. 

Links to resources for approaching those topics

  • The National Council of Teachers of English position statement Educators’ Right and Responsibilities to Engage in Antiracist Teaching offers guidance to teachers, stating that “teaching racial histories and antiracist education do not constitute anti-Americanism but serve as one element in an education that supports the development of informed citizens who can work toward a more equitable society.” The statement continues by describing “antiracist teaching as that which encompasses the complexity of history including but not limited to systemic and ideological racism, as well as nuances and rich histories of who we are as peoples, including joys, accomplishments, resistance, and resilience.” https://ncte.org/statement/antiracist-teaching/
  • This article from the American Psychological Association discusses the importance of discussing race with young children and offers the example of work done by Sesame Street to help young children understand race. It also links to a Sesame Street website with more resources on addressing race with children.
Alternative or Complementary Primary Sources
  1. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016875406/
    • This photograph by Harris & Ewing shows the same 1939 concert but shows the size of the crowd.
  2. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017695476/
    • This photograph by Roger Smith shows Marian Anderson in 1943 at the commemoration of a mural honoring her 1939 concert.
Additional References
  1. The National Council of Teachers of English Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English offers support to teachers in working against racism in the classroom. https://ncte.org/get-involved/volunteer/groups/committee-against-racism-and-bias-in-the-teaching-of-english/
  2. This article by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “Her Song and Her Spirit Could Not Be Silenced,” provides more information on Marian Anderson. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/her-song-and-her-spirit-could-not-be-silenced
  3. This article by the Equal Justice Initiative, “Banned from Indoor Venues Because of Her Race, Renowned Opera Singer Marian Anderson Performs for 75,000 Outside Lincoln Memorial,” offers more information about Marian Anderson’s concert.
  4. https://calendar.eji.org/racial-injustice/apr/9
  5. This PBS article, “This Historic Marian Anderson Performance Made Her an Icon of the Civil Rights Movement,” explains Marian Anderson’s connection to the Civil Rights Movement. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/this-historic-marian-anderson-performance-made-her-an-icon-of-the-civil-rights-movement/14241/
  6. The Daughters of the American Revolution published a statement, “Marian Anderson and the DAR,” which addresses their denial of Marian Anderson’s request to sing at Constitution Hall. https://www.dar.org/national-society/marian-anderson
  7. The US National Archives Blog offers more information on Marian Anderson’s concert in their article “Marian Anderson’s 1939 Easter Concert.” https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2022/02/28/marian-andersons-1939-easter-concert/
  8. The National Park Service has an article, “Marian Anderson and Constitution Hall” (the Lincoln Memorial and National Mall are managed by the NPS). https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/marian-anderson-and-constitution-hall.htm
  9. The Center for Racial Justice in Education offers resources for educators working against racism. https://centerracialjustice.org/
  10. This YouTube video “Marian Anderson Sings at Lincoln Memorial” shows Marian Anderson’s 1939 performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAONYTMf2pk
Subject:
Music/Recorded Sound/Performing Arts , Photography , History
Topics:
Arts and Culture , History , Performing Arts , Photographs, Prints, and Posters
Year/Date of Creation or Publication
1939