Constitution Hall, located in Washington D.C., played a significant role in Black history during the civil rights movement. Constitution Hall was managed by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), an organization that promoted patriotism and historic preservation. The DAR had a policy of racial segregation, which prevented Black performers from using the venue.

In 1939, renowned African American contralto Marian Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall due to her race. In response to this discrimination, Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady at the time, resigned from the DAR in protest. This incident sparked a national debate on racial segregation and led to Anderson's historic concert at the Lincoln Memorial, which drew a crowd of 75,000 people.

The controversy surrounding Marian Anderson's exclusion from Constitution Hall shed light on the racial inequality present in many institutions at the time. It also inspired greater activism and solidarity within the Black community and among allies in the fight against segregation and discrimination. This event is remembered as a pivotal moment in Black history and the civil rights movement.