The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights

Bibliography

Freedman, R. (2011). The voice that challenged a nation: Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Critical Analysis

Freedman takes an in-depth look at the life and career of Marian Anderson. The book follows Anderson as she, her family, and her church congregation make sacrifices so that Anderson can realize her dreams and potential as a singer. Anderson sang for segregated audiences for many years. This story takes a pivotal turn when Anderson is denied the right to sing at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution. DAR had a “white artists only” policy. Anderson, not inviting political confrontation, was assisted by her friend, Elenor Roosevelt, to plan an Easter Sunday performance at the Lincoln Memorial which was open to the public. This was her most famous performance, as it was “a powerful message of defiance against the injustice of bigotry and racial discrimination.” 

Freedman photo-biography includes numerous black and white photos which convey Anderson’s personal struggle as a black American woman. Readers are able to peek into the life of Anderson through family photos, new clippings, and other documents.

Review Excerpts
From Booklist:
Documentation is an essential part of her exciting story, with many pages of source notes as well as an enthusiastic, annotated bibliography, and, of course, a discography. Older readers and adults will want this, too. - Hazel Rochman

From Kirkus:
He offers instead a fully realized portrait of a musical artist and her times. Well-chosen, well-placed archival photographs, clear writing, abundant research seamlessly woven into the text, and careful documentation make an outstanding, handsome biography. Freedman at his best.

Awards and Honors

• Newbery Honor Book, 2005

• Sibert Medal, 2005

Connections

This book about Marian Anderson should be included in collections relevant to the Civil Rights Era, Women’s History Month, and Black History Month. Her story is able to hit in all of these areas in a way that would benefit students.