BlackFacts.com presents the black fact of the day for July 4.

Marian Anderson and Ralph Bunche receive the first Medals of Freedom.

She was an American singer, and an important figure in the struggle for African-American artists to overcome racial prejudice.

Bunche was an American political scientist, diplomat, member of the United Nations for more than two decades, activist of the US civil rights movement, and the first African American and first person of African descent to be awarded a Nobel Prize.

In 1955, Anderson became the first African American singer to perform as a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Bunche was one of the leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for more than 20 years.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal are the highest civilian awards of the United States.

It was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, superseding the Medal of Freedom that was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to honor civilian service during World War II.

JFK’s assassination in November meant that he was not alive to present the awards at the  ceremony that December. His successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, presented them in his place. 

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