The Sound of Freedom: Marian Anderson, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Concert That Awakened America

“A notable addition to the historical record…Arsenault’s book is a timely reminder of the worm of history turning once more.”—Boston Globe

On Easter Sunday 1939, celebrated vocalist Marian Anderson sang before a throng of seventy-five thousand at the Lincoln Memorial. Though she was at the peak of a dazzling career, Anderson had recently been barred from performing at the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Constitution Hall because she was black. Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR over the incident, turning it into national news. The courageous Anderson made the most of a politically charged occasion, captivating the world with her talent and her dignity. This richly textured story from acclaimed historian Raymond Arsenault captures an early milestone in the struggle for civil rights, the quiet heroism of Anderson, and a moment that still inspires Americans of every race.