Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1897. She began singing at the age of six in the Union Baptist Church choir. The church parishioners called her "Baby Contralto." Her father bought her a piano when she was eight, but they were unable to afford piano lessons. Anderson, however, was musically gifted and taught herself to play piano. As Anderson matured, she developed an impressive vocal range. She sang soprano, alto, tenor and bass with perfect pitch. Her church, recognizing her potential, raised $500 to pay for lessons with the voice teacher Giuseppe Boghetti.

After graduating high school in 1921, Anderson applied to the Philadelphia Music Academy but was rejected due to her race. In 1925, she won first place in a singing contest sponsored by the New York Philharmonic. Her reward was the opportunity to sing with the orchestra in a concert. Her fame as a singer grew and in 1928 she performed at Carnegie Hall. Anderson was awarded a scholarship that enabled her to tour Europe and study under the best vocal teacher on the continent.

Anderson became one of the most celebrated singers in Europe, but when she returned to the United States, she was met with discrimination and racism. Once, when scheduled to perform at Princeton University, she was denied a hotel room because of her race. Albert Einstein, outraged upon learning of her situation, invited her to say with him at his home on several occasions and the two became friends.

In 1939, the Daughters of the American Revolution denied Anderson permission to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC because it was policy that the Hall was only to be used by white performers. When word leaked out to the public about Anderson being turned away, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt intervened on her behalf. She invited Anderson to perform at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday. On April 9, 1939, in front of a crowd of 75,000 people, Anderson began singing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." The crowd was mesmerized and her voice was broadcast to millions throughout the nation.

Anderson performed for decades. She was invited to sing the national anthem at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. In 1963, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She gave her final concert at Carnegie Hall in 1965. President Lyndon Johnson awarded her the American Medal of Freedom. In 1977, Congress awarded her with a gold medal and in 1986, President Ronald Reagan presented her with the National Medal of Arts. She received a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1991.

Anderson's hauntingly beautiful voice dazzled crowds throughout the world. She was honored throughout Europe and was allowed to stay at the finest hotels and dine in the finest restaurants. However, for much of her life, she was denied these amenities in the United States due to segregation and racism. Despite the slights she received in America, it became apparent to everyone in America that talent and genius have no color barrier. She was the voice of America, and for that she was a great American.

Ebenezer Bassett was born in 1833 in Derby, Connecticut. His father was an escaped slave and his mother was an American Indian. After high school, Bassett became the first black student at the Connecticut Normal School, now called Central Connecticut State University. While he was there be met and became friends with Frederick Douglass.

After college, he began teaching at the Institute for Colored Youth, later called Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. He taught Latin, Greek, and math. After one year, he became principal of the school. When the American Civil War broke out, Bassett became a leading voice for civil rights and the abolition of slavery.

After the war, Bassett continued teaching in Pennsylvania and speaking out for the civil rights of blacks. When Ulysses S Grant became president, Frederick Douglass suggested that Bassett be appointed to be the Minister Resident to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Grant nominated him and he was confirmed by the Senate. Bassett became the first black diplomat in American history as well as the highest African-American official ever in the national government.

When Bassett arrived in Haiti, he found the country in the middle of a civil war. He handled many cases in Haiti dealing with commercial claims, diseases, fires, hurricanes and other consular affairs. When the Grant Administration ended, he resigned his post and became the Consul General for Haiti in New York City.

Bassett's role as the first black diplomat became a symbol of progress towards civil rights in American. Bassett represented his country well within the diplomatic corps and proved himself to be a great American.