Constitution Hall, located in Washington, D.C., holds significant historical importance in Black history. One of the most notable events involving Constitution Hall is the performance of renowned singer Marian Anderson in 1939. Anderson, an African American contralto, was denied the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) due to her race.

In response to this blatant act of racial discrimination, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who was a member of the DAR, resigned from the organization in protest. Subsequently, with the support of the Roosevelt administration, Marian Anderson performed a legendary concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday in 1939, which attracted a crowd of over 75,000 people and became a symbol of the ongoing struggle for civil rights in America.

The incident involving Marian Anderson and Constitution Hall highlighted the pervasive racial segregation and discrimination faced by Black artists and performers during that time, and it also served as a catalyst for greater awareness and activism in the civil rights movement.