The Metropolitan Opera has played a significant role in Black history, with many notable Black singers making history on its stage. One of the most famous Black opera singers to perform at the Met was Marian Anderson. In 1955, Marian Anderson became the first African American singer to perform a leading role at the Metropolitan Opera, breaking the color barrier at one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world.

In addition to Marian Anderson, other Black opera singers who have made history at the Met include Leontyne Price, who made her debut in 1961 and went on to become one of the most celebrated sopranos of her time. Grace Bumbry, another trailblazing Black opera singer, also made history at the Met, becoming the first Black singer to portray a leading role in a televised Saturday matinee broadcast in 1965.

These pioneering Black opera singers paved the way for future generations of Black artists to break into the world of opera and classical music. Their contributions to the Met and the world of opera have been instrumental in promoting diversity and representation in a historically white-dominated industry.