One of the reason she was so popular was because she became an important figure to overcome racial prejudice in the US during the mid 20th century. In 1934, the daughters of the American Revolution refused to let her perform to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall. This was not allowed because of prejudice. Franklin D. Roosevelt let her sing on the steps of Lincoln memorial in from front of 75,000 people and a radio audience. Plus, she became the first black person to perform at the Metropolitan. In 1939 she was turned down again to sing at the Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Marion Anderson then performed for many people. She became the first black person to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She finally was allowed to sing at the Constitution Hall and was invited by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1957, she sang for President Dwight D. Isenhower and later for President John F. Kennedy. She actually sang for John F. Kennedy again later and other dignitaries at the White House. Plus, she played for some overseas veterans and WACS.
As Marion Anderson’s career ends, she sang the March on Washington for jobs and freedom. That same year, she was one of the original 31 recipients of the newly reinstituted presidential metal of freedom. She also released her new album titled Snoop Cat. In 1965, she christened the nuclear powered ballistic submarine USS George Washington Carver.
Although Marion Anderson retired from singing in 1905, she continued to appear publicly. On several occasions she narrated Aaron Coplan’s Lincoln portait. This included a performance at the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1976.