Marian Anderson, born in Philadelphia on February 27, 1897, grew from "the baby contralto" to "the voice of the century." | American Experience | PBS

Through her recordings, Marian Anderson brought Black artistry to white audiences and helped popularize African-American spirituals. VOICE OF FREEDOM premieres Mon Feb 15 at 9/8c on PBS → pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/voice-freedom | American Experience | PBS

Anchored by key performances in her career, "Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands" shows how her quiet genius and breathtaking voice set the stage for Black performers in classical music. Later, she brought her resolute character to the fight for civil rights. "Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands" premieres February 8 at 9/8c on PBS. [VID: Archival footage and photographs of Marian Anderson with voiceover from experts and Anderson herself. Transcript: She was the first African