Marian Anderson, born in Philadelphia on February 27, 1897, grew from "the baby contralto" to "the voice of the century." | American Experience | PBS

Singer Marian Anderson was not allowed to perform at Washington, D.C.'s Constitution Hall because of her skin color. The controversy led to a historic Easter Sunday recital in 1939 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before an audience of more than 75,000. https://cbsn.ws/3djpfL9 | CBS News

On Easter Sunday, 1939, Marian Anderson stood in front of the band on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and stared out at an audience of 75,000. With tears in her eyes, the accomplished contralto sang "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" and "America" with heart-breaking pathos. Ms. Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia, PA on February 27, 1897. She would grow up to be the first African American to perform at both the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and at the White House. | American Expe

Anchored by key performances in her career, "Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands" shows how her quiet genius and breathtaking voice set the stage for Black performers in classical music. Later, she brought her resolute character to the fight for civil rights. "Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands" premieres February 8 at 9/8c on PBS. [VID: Archival footage and photographs of Marian Anderson with voiceover from experts and Anderson herself. Transcript: She was the first African