The noted African American soprano Emma Azalia Hackley (1867-1922) abandoned her concert career in the early twentieth century and began travelling throughout the United States, organizing community choruses and promoting community music making. She spent the remainder of her life engaged in what she called "musical social uplift", which entailed teaching voice culture to hundreds of thousands of African Americans. To accomplish her goals, she formulated a unique pedagogy especially suited to black citizens in times of racism and segregation. Because of her commitment to music education and community activism, she became famous as the "National Vocal Teacher" of African Americans.