Why did opera singer Marian Anderson perform an open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939?

A) The event was a peace protest in the face of the coming war in Europe.
B) Performances at the Lincoln Memorial had been part of the African-American tradition in Washington DC since Reconstruction.
C) The Daughters of the American Revolution had refused to allow the black opera singer to perform at a concert hall.
D) A fire at the original venue - the Library of Congress - had forced Anderson and her audience to move outside.

Marian Anderson

A celebrated African-American contralto and one of the most important singers of the 20th century, particularly known for her performance at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939.

Open-Air Concert

An outdoor music performance in which the audience and performers are exposed to the elements, often held in parks, amphitheaters, or other public spaces.

Lincoln Memorial

A monument in Washington D.C. dedicated to honoring President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, and symbolizing his ideals of freedom and equality.