This African-American woman made her opera singing debut in 1924. In 1955 she became the first black woman to sing leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Later she became the first black to perform in the White house. Who is she?

With a celebrated career that spanned decades, this acclaimed contralto broke numerous racial barriers in the world of classical music. Her 1955 debut at the Metropolitan Opera was a watershed moment, making her the first African-American to sing a leading role with the prestigious company. She took the stage as Ulrica in Giuseppe Verdi's opera *Un Ballo in Maschera*, receiving a thunderous ovation that acknowledged both her immense talent and the historical significance of her performance.

Perhaps her most iconic moment, however, occurred sixteen years earlier in 1939. After being barred from singing at Washington, D.C.'s Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution because of her race, a national outcry ensued. With the support of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, she instead performed a historic open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. This powerful act of protest and artistic triumph drew an integrated crowd of over 75,000 people and became a landmark event in the American Civil Rights Movement.

She also achieved the milestone of being the first African-American to be invited to perform at the White House, singing for President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. Through her immense talent and quiet dignity, she challenged segregation and opened doors for generations of black artists who followed, cementing her status as both a musical legend and a civil rights icon.