Voice of Freedom

Feb 15, 2021

2h 0m

★ 0.0

Turbulent Times Turned an Artist into a Hero

Overview

On Easter Sunday, 1939, contralto Marian Anderson stepped up to a microphone in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Inscribed on the walls of the monument behind her were the words “all men are created equal.” Barred from performing in Constitution Hall because of her race, Anderson would sing for the American people in the open air. Hailed as a voice that “comes around once in a hundred years” by maestros in Europe and widely celebrated by both white and black audiences at home, her fame hadn’t been enough to spare her from the indignities and outright violence of racism and segregation.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

GBH

American Experience Films

Voice of Freedom Trailers

Cast

Self (archive footage)

Marian Anderson

Narrator (voice)

Renée Elise Goldsberry

herself

Allida M. Black

herself

Angela Brown

herself

Lucy Caplan

herself

Alisha Lola Jones

herself

Adriane Lentz-Smith

herself

Carol Oja

herself

Jillian Patricia Pirtle

herself

Sharon Vriend Robinette

herself

Kira Thurman

herself

Leslie Ureña

“The Singer: A Montford Point Marine” tells the story of Henry Charles Johnson, one of the first African Americans in the U.S. Marine Corps and a professional crooner. Lured by the dignified Marine uniform and the allure of the G.I. Bill, he's abruptly thrown into the bare, segregated world of Camp Montford Point, a far cry from the lush expansiveness of Camp Lejeune he'd imagined. The harsh realities of Southern segregation strike a jarring contrast to his accustomed diversity of Manhattan, escalating further with hostility from drill instructors. Undeterred, his resolve is galvanized by the dream of donning the Marine uniform and the prospects following discharge. Post-discharge, Johnson immerses himself in New York's music scene, enchanting audiences with his soulful, Sinatra-esque timbre. This riveting narrative portrays the unmatched fortitude of the Montford Point Marines, representing a crucial African-American, American, and globally relevant human experience.

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