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Late Career: Background Cold War Politics and Southeast Asia The Cold War refers to a period of extreme tension between the United States and the USSR that lasted for nearly 40 years. These two countries were world superpowers constantly trying to "one-up" each other. This competition led to many scientific advances, like the development of orbiting satellites and the first moon landing. It also made for a stressful political situation. Both countries had nuclear missiles pointed at each other, and an itchy trigger finger could have started World War III at any time. In the US, it was a time of fierce patriotism. Senator Joseph McCarthy began investigating the private lives of prominent American citizens to see if they were connected to the communist party. Many Hollywood stars were blacklisted because of their alleged Soviet connections. Anyone who checked certain books out of a public library could be investigated by the national government and accused of "un-American activities." The US was also concerned with the spread of communism throughout the world. Because Southeast Asia was geographically close to the USSR, and communism was already taking hold in countries like China and North Korea, the US felt it was vital to spread democracy in the region. Marian Anderson's 1958 State Department-sponsored tour of Southeast Asia was intended to introduce the people of this region to the wonders and possibilities of democracy. The Civil Rights Movement in the early 1960's When the Supreme Court issued its 1954 ruling in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, it became illegal for organizations receiving government funding to segregate and discriminate based on race. De facto segregation persisted, and another ten years passed before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 guaranteed integration across the country in all public arenas. Those ten years were a struggle, filled with mostly peaceful protests by African-Americans and whites alike. It was one of the most important, action-packed, and inspiring periods of American history. Martin Luther King Jr. came to be an influential leader during this time; his "I Have a Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington became a defining moment for the nation. The struggle for equality among all citizens continues to this day. A timeline of the Civil Rights Movement, beginning with the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, is available at: www.infoplease.com/spot/civilrightstimeline1.html Marian at the UN When Marian Anderson was appointed to serve on the United States’ delegation to the United Nations in 1958, she eagerly accepted the position, and immediately cancelled concert dates and lectures for the remainder of the calendar year. Marian was assigned to the Trusteeship Council, which supervised the administration of eleven trust territories in Central Africa and the southwestern Pacific Ocean. All-in-all, her position was a ceremonial one; she was a symbol of the progress being made in US race-relations. Her assignment was to read prepared statements asserting the US's position on different matters. She caused some controversy when she broke from protocol to explain to the council how she passionately disagreed with the vote of the American delegation. Aside from this one incident, she was remembered best for hosting many receptions for other delegates and representatives, especially those whose countries hosted her on her State Department-sponsored tour of the region. Honors and Awards Marian Anderson received hundreds of awards throughout her career. Here is a sampling of those awards, listed chronologically:
Additionally, Marian received honorary keys to many US cities, including Atlantic City, NJ; Detroit, MI; Fresno, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Louisville, KY; Portland, OR; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Washington DC. She was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 1958, 1962, and 1965. • The March on Washington |
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