Anderson Made America Proud

The death of Marian Anderson, born near the end of the lastcentury, removes one the most distinguished vocal artists of thiswaning century.

Her velvety contralto thrilled music lovers around the world,while her quiet dignity and grace, equally inspiring, prompted thefirst stirrings of the modern civil rights movement.

Her 1939 concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, afterbeing denied use of a Washington concert hall because she was black,was an early milestone in race relations.

There were other milestones, both personal and historic. Shewas the first black to sing with the New York Philharmonic. She wasthe first black to sing at the White House. And she was the firstblack to perform at the Metropolitan Opera.

Initially accorded higher acclaim in the concert halls of Europethan in America, Anderson's faith in her own country never wavered."I was - and am - an American," she said.

America is ever proud to claim her as its own.