ONE VOICE

The Story

It’s 1939 — and much like today, economic turmoil, racial tension, and political division consume America. When world-renowned Black opera singer Marian Anderson is denied the opportunity to perform in Washington, D.C. because of her race, she confronts the question of whether one voice can make a difference.

In choosing to sing a groundbreaking, desegregated concert at the Lincoln Memorial, she transforms a national controversy into a defining moment of unity, hope, and change.

Why This Story? Why Now?

We are living in a moment when divisions across politics, race, and culture are increasingly entrenched. Now, more than ever, we need stories that connect us to our shared humanity.

Over 80 years ago, Marian Anderson — a Black woman facing profound racial prejudice — used the power of her voice to reach a fractured nation. Her historic concert became a defining cultural moment.

Marian rose from desperate circumstances to become the “voice of the century,” earning international acclaim and building bridges across cultures.

In this time of deep division, her story reveals the power of one voice to open hearts, draw people together, and shape a more just future.