Some of her most notable accomplishments include:
- Concert career: Anderson performed in many prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera, and toured widely throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. She was the first African-American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, where she made her debut in 1955.
- Civil rights advocacy: Anderson was an active supporter of the civil rights movement and used her celebrity to raise awareness of racial discrimination. In 1939, she was denied the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., due to her race, but first lady Eleanor Roosevelt invited her to perform at the Lincoln Memorial instead. The event drew a crowd of more than 75,000 people and was a major turning point in the fight for racial equality.
- Artistic achievements: Anderson was widely praised for her powerful and expressive voice. She received numerous awards and honors, including the Spingarn Medal (1939), the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1983), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1963). She was also inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame (1990).
- Legacy: Anderson inspired many other African-American musicians and artists to pursue their dreams, and her activism helped to pave the way for greater equality in the performing arts and beyond. She remains an iconic figure in the history of American music and civil rights.