“To be free—to walk the good American earth as equal citizens, to live without fear, to enjoy the fruits of our toil, to give our children every opportunity in life—that dream which we have held so long in our hearts is today the destiny that we hold in our hands.”
Stories from the Paul Robeson House
Hear personal narratives from those whose lives have been touched by this Renaissance man.
Blanche Burton-Lyles
Blanche Burton-Lyles is the founder and president of the Marian Anderson Historical Society. She was the first African American woman pianist to perform at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic. Marion Anderson's encouragement inspired Blanche to preserve her mentor's legacy, so in 1998 she purchased the opera singer’s house and converted it into an historical site.