Editing Marian Anderson (section)

== Philadelphia Childhood ==

Marian Anderson was born on February 27, 1897, in South Philadelphia, the eldest of three daughters of John Berkley Anderson and Anna Delilah Rucker Anderson. The family lived in a modest home where music filled the household. Young Marian's extraordinary voice emerged early, attracting attention at Union Baptist Church, where she joined the choir at age six. The church community, recognizing her exceptional talent, would later raise funds to support her musical education, demonstrating the role that African American institutions played in nurturing talent that white institutions ignored.<ref name="anderson">{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=Marian |title=My Lord, What a Morning: An Autobiography |year=1956 |publisher=Viking |location=New York}}</ref>

Anderson's father died when she was twelve, leaving the family in difficult circumstances. Her mother took in laundry to support the children while Marian contributed by singing at churches and community events. Despite these challenges, Anderson pursued musical training with determination that her community supported. When she was denied admission to a local music school because of her race—a rejection that deeply wounded her—the community raised funds for private lessons with voice teachers including Giuseppe Boghetti, who would guide her development for many years.<ref name="keiler"/>