Marion Anderson Quotes

“The Revolution's Step-Daughters
will not let
Marion Anderson clear
her brown throat

onstage, among the blinding lights
of Constitution Hall--
it will take a First Lady to invite
Anderson to thrill

a throng at Lincoln's stone feet.
(In the wings, Anderson trills
the me-me-me
of practice drills.)

Like sky her throat is clear.
Everywhere,
folks stop to hear her
voice's bright thunder--”
― Kevin Young, For the Confederate Dead