Marie Selika Williams:
On November 14, 1878, The National Republican Reported On A Historic Event That Had Taken Place In The White House Green Room.
Opera Singer, Marie Selika Williams And Her Husband, Baritone, Sampson Williams, Performed A Private Concert For Preisdent Rutherford Hayes And His Wife. In Doing So, Marie Salika Williams Became The First Black Americans To Perform In The White House.
A Coloratura Soprano, Known As The "Queen Of Stacatto," Marie Selika Williams Was Born In Natchez, Mississippi In 1849. She Received Her Musical Training In Ohio And San Francisco.
In The Years Following Her White House Concert, She Toured Nationally, Playing To All-Black Audiences. From 1882-1885, She Toured Europe And In October, 1883, Gave A Command Performance For Queen Victoria.
Because Of Racism, Marie Salika Williams Never Received The Widespread Acclaim As The Leading Black Prima Donna Of Her Time. Blacks Were Not Allowed In Opera Houses Until The 1930's And Were Not Generally Accepted In Anything Except Minstrel Shows.
After Her Husband Died, Williams Retired From The Performing. When She Was 67, She Accepted A Teaching Job At A New York High School. She Died In 1937, At The Age Of 87.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must ContinueTo Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
