The photograph shows a woman wearing a broad-brimmed hat singing or speaking at a lectern equipped with multiple microphones; the image caption identifies her as Marian Anderson. The photograph was taken during the rally at the Lincoln Memorial as part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. Men in light summer suits and shirts stand around her, following the program. The musical program at the Lincoln Memorial was an integral part of the rally and underscored the peaceful character of the event. The March on Washington brought together hundreds of thousands of people who demanded equal civil rights and economic equality for the African American population.