Remember the days of old;
consider the generations long past.
—Deuteronomy 32:7
Here’s a small sampling of the honors bestowed on legendary contralto Marian Anderson:
- 1955 – The first African American to sing with the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York.
- 1957 – Sang at the inauguration of President Eisenhower for a crowd of 75,000, including Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and members of Congress.
- 1958 – Became a United States delegate to the United Nations.
- 1963 – Was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
When asked to name the greatest moment in her life, which of the above did Anderson choose? None of them. She said the greatest moment of her life was when she went home and told her mother she wouldn’t have to take in washing anymore.
Celebrate the advantages of your time and place in history—and take a backward glance of gratitude for those who paved the way.
You didn’t get to the present without help from the past.