Black Women in the Military
Florence B. Price, an award-winning pianist and composer, created one of the most famous songs heard in churches across the United States: “My Soul is Anchored in the Lord.” This deeply spiritual song carries a powerful meaning. When Florence wrote this piece, African Americans were enduring racial injustice and inequality across the country.
Born Florence Beatrice Smith in Little Rock, Arkansas, on April 9, 1887, she was raised in a home that valued classical music. Her father, James Smith, a prominent dentist born to free Black parents in Delaware, was also a painter whose work was exhibited at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Her mother, Florence, was a music teacher who encouraged her daughter's musical talents. At the age of four, Florence gave her first piano performance.
As she grew older, Florence's passion for music composition deepened. Seeking advanced education in her field, she faced societal challenges, including racial discrimination. To navigate these barriers, Florence sometimes passed as Mexican due to her light skin tone. She briefly taught in Arkansas before moving to Atlanta in 1910, where she became head of the music department at Clark University in 1912.
Florence married attorney Thomas J. Price and returned to Arkansas. However, after a series of racial incidents, including a lynching in 1927, the family relocated to Chicago, Illinois. There, Florence continued her career and furthered her studies, enrolling in institutions such as the Chicago Musical College, Chicago Teachers College, the University of Chicago, and the American Conservatory of Music. She also pursued studies in languages and liberal arts.
Financial struggles eventually led to her divorce in 1931, and Florence became a single mother, raising two daughters. To support her family, she worked as an organist for silent films and composed songs for radio ads under a pseudonym. Despite her hardships, including illness and financial difficulties, Florence persisted in writing music.
Living in a tenement house after her divorce, she connected with notable African American artists such as poet Langston Hughes. Florence became one of the most prominent African American composers of the 20th century, alongside William Grant Still. Her music integrated African American rhythms and styles, a hallmark of her compositions.
Florence composed more than 300 works. Her song “My Soul is Anchored in the Lord” was performed by the legendary Marian Anderson before a crowd of 75,000 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, marking a significant moment in her legacy. Florence also interacted with prominent figures such as Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, Marian Anderson, and Katherine Dunham.
Florence B. Price left an indelible mark on music, inspiring countless composers who followed. Tragically, she was buried in an unmarked grave upon her death on June 3, 1953, in Chicago. It wasn't until the 1960s that she began receiving the recognition she deserved. In 1964, a Chicago school was named in her honor, and the great Leontyne Price performed her songs at the White House at the invitation of President Jimmy Carter.
A documentary about her life, titled “The Caged Bird: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price,” was funded in part by the University of Arkansas and aired on educational channels. Florence B. Price remains a true pioneer, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire.