She is also one of the few African-American performers in experimental pop/rock music.

The cast consisted of eighteen men and women, a mix of African and African-American performers.

More than 250 African-American performers have played in the Broadway productions alone.

Anderson performed at the White House three years prior in 1936, making her the first African-American performer to do so.

In some venues, African-American performers were required to remain off stage until they performed.

She was the first African-American performer in this role.

"Despite its demeaning caricatures, he argued, the program at least moved African-American performers to center stage.'"

Another African-American performer, Diahann Carroll, was considered for the cast but not hired.

Following the example set by other African-American performers, she refused to perform for segregated audiences, thus did not perform in her native city until 1962.

During this period she befriended many African-American performers, including the dancer Josephine Baker.