occasions by Albert Einstein; and
WHEREAS, On Easter Sunday 1939, after being granted approval
from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Marian Anderson became the
first individual to perform solo at the Lincoln Memorial, which
took place in front of an integrated audience of more than
75,000 people and was heard by millions of people on the radio;
and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson continued to break borders for Black
artists by entertaining the troops in hospitals and bases during
World War II and the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, In 1941, Marian Anderson received the Edward Bok
Award for distinguished service to the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 1955, Marian Anderson broke the color barrier by
becoming the first African American to perform on the main stage
at the Metropolitan Opera; and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson sang at the inaugurations of
President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President John F. Kennedy;
and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson was officially appointed goodwill
ambassador to the United Nations by President Dwight D.
Eisenhower; and
WHEREAS, In 1963, Marian Anderson received the Presidential
Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, Marian Anderson was the first recipient of
the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award of the City of New
York; and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson has been awarded honorary doctoral
degrees from Howard University, Temple University and Smith
College; and
WHEREAS, Marian Anderson retired from singing in 1965, and
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