In "Marian Anderson Sings," why won't the Daughters of the American Revolution rent Constitution Hall to Marian Anderson?


A.
Anderson is not a member of the DAR.


B.
The venue is entirely booked.


C.


The DAR does not know who Anderson is.


D.
Anderson is African American.



Answer :

D. Anderson is African American

Due to the fact, that Marian Anderson was African American, the Daughters of the American Revolution, refused to allow Marian the Constitution Hall's rental. This case is just one of many cases of racial prejudice in the  USA. The then first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt and President Roosevelt helped Marian so that she would sing in an open air concert on April 1939. Adding to the conflict, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was pressuring Marian  into not singing in Roosevelt orchestrated concert.  The political and social conflict around Marian's performance was unprecedented for a classical musician. Nevertheless, she was able to perform in Washington DC for a large crowd.