Monday, February 27, 2006

Spotlight
Contralto Marian Anderson was born on this date in 1897. The opera singer was the first black to sing in the White House (1936) and at NY's Metropolitan Opera House (1955). In 1939, the Daughters of the American Revolution prevented her from performing in a concert at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR in protest, and arranged for Anderson to perform at the Lincoln Memorial, instead, where 75,000 turned out to hear her sing "America."

Quote
"There are many persons ready to do what is right because in their hearts they know it is right. But they hesitate, waiting for the other fellow to make the first move; and he, in turn, waits for you." – Marian Anderson

Word of the day
aegis: patronage, sponsorship; Anderson appeared at the Lincoln Memorial under the aegis of the Roosevelts. (© )

Today's News

• Iran: claims to have reached agreement with Russia on uranium enrichment; Russia denies it (story)
• New Orleans: Mardi Gras celebrations can't hide Katrina devastation (story)
• bird flu: Chirac urges calm as outbreak is confirmed (story)

Today's History

• Dominican Republic: became independent of Haiti (1844); got its 1st elected president after 38 years of dictatorship (1963)
• Leaning Tower of Pisa: the Italian government requested aid in preventing the tower from toppling (1964)
• Kuwait: was liberated during the Gulf War (1991)

Today's Birthdays

• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: poet, The Song of Hiawatha, "Paul Revere's Ride" (1807-1882)
• John Steinbeck: author of The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden (1902-1968)
• Elizabeth Taylor: much-married movie star (74)