The photograph shows a woman in a striking straw hat speaking at a lectern equipped with multiple microphones; in the background, a densely packed crowd of spectators can be seen. The image caption identifies the person depicted as Marian Anderson, a celebrated concert singer who had already performed at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 and participated again in the rally of the March on Washington in 1963. The photograph belongs to the highlight scenes at the Lincoln Memorial, where hundreds of thousands of people gathered on August 28, 1963, to advocate for civil rights and employment. The rally on the National Mall was a central event of the U.S. civil rights movement and aimed at overcoming legally institutionalized racial segregation. The image documents the public role of women and female artists in the movement, who, alongside political speakers, made essential contributions to shaping the day.