Marian Anderson was the first African American to ever perform at the White House. Although music was her passion, Anderson had a lot to do with civil rights. She was breaking barriers for African Americans and women left and right. Not only was she the first African American to perform in the White House, she also was asked to perform at the Lincoln memorial by Elenor Roosevelt after she was denied a performance at D.C’s Constitution Hall. Throughout her career and her lifetime, she received many prestigious awards and eventually made her way into the political scene. From performing for the president, being awarded the Presidential Metal of freedom, and singing at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, Anderson was seen pushing racial barriers and challenging the narrative. Despite helping break racial stereotypes and boundaries, Anderson also created her own scholarship. The scholarship was run through a singing competition where the artist would be rewarded for their leadership and humanitarianism.Because of her humanitarianism and uniqueness, she will be recognized as one of the greats.