Chapter 49

Summary

• The chapter is set in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 1939, where Eleanor is attending a concert in secret due to anonymous death threats received by her mail.
• Her presence at this concert featuring Miss Anderson, an African American contralto singer, is unknown to everyone except her close confidante, Earl. Eleanor believes her presence should remain unknown, as the event is meant to spotlight Miss Anderson's talent, not her attendance.
• In light of the death threats, her staff and her husband, Franklin, had discouraged her from attending. Still, she decided to attend due to the significance of an African American woman singing at the Lincoln Memorial.
• Eleanor is deeply moved by Miss Anderson's performance, particularly when she performs the patriotic song "My country ’tis of thee," noting how the song stresses Miss Anderson's American citizenship and right to perform in the country she loves.
• Despite the potential danger, Eleanor feels at peace during the event and believes it was right to attend, highlighting the issue of segregation and discrimination in America during this time.
• Eleanor reveals her efforts to support Miss Anderson, including resignation from the Daughters of the American Revolution for refusing Anderson’s performance at Constitution Hall and writing a column about whether one should stay with an organization that acts against one's beliefs.
• She remembers a conversation with her husband, Franklin, and Secretary of the Interior Ickes, discussing her plan to host Miss Anderson's concert at the Lincoln Memorial to a broader audience through National Broadcast Radio.
• The chapter ends with Miss Anderson singing the song "Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen," and Eleanor wondering if the unity this concert has sparked could continue in America.