Today is Thursday, April 9th, 2026.
This was a day noted in history for a free concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
The concert started with “My Country ‘tis of Thee,” and ended with three spirituals.
It was given by Contralto Marian Anderson, and was called the first ever public protest concert in the United States. Howard University wanted to present Anderson in concert, but they didn’t have the space.
They turned to the Daughters of the American Revolution, who refused, saying Constitution Hall was a “whites only” performance venue.
Then First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt stepped in. She quit the DAR and organized Anderson’s performance.
Later in her memoir, with a chapter devoted to Marian Anderson, Soprano Jessye Norman wrote, “despite the pervasive prejudice she experienced, (Anderson) didn’t allow hatred to dampen the song within.”
The concert was presented on this day, April 9th 1939.
