EVB2933612: Robert McFerrin (1921-2006), made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1955, the same year as Marian Anderson. Both were the first African Americans of their genders to sing principal roles at the New York opera. 1955 portrait by Carl Van Vechten, Vechten, Carl Van (1880-1964) / Bridgeman Images
EVB2933844: Anna May Wong (1905-1961), Chinese-American film actress who persevered throughout her long career against casting discrimination. She lost the lead role in THE GOOD EARTH, 1937, to Caucasian actress, Luise Rainer. 1937 portrait by Carl Van Vechten, Vechten, Carl Van (1880-1964) / Bridgeman Images
EVB2948502: Photographer Carl Van Vechten with Gertrude Stein as she waves her hat from S.S. Champlain. May 4, 1935. Stein had been part of the expatriate art community is Paris for decades. In 1933 she published a best selling memoir, 'The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas,' written in the voice of Toklas, her life partner, Vechten, Carl Van (1880-1964) / Bridgeman Images
EVB2088304: Anna May Wong: Anna May Wong (1905-1961), Chinese-American film actress who persevered throughout her long career against casting discrimination. She lost the lead role in THE GOOD EARTH, 1937, to Caucasian actress, Luise Rainer. 1937 portrait by Carl Van Vechten., Vechten, Carl Van (1880-1964) / Bridgeman Images