I'm not alone, I'm free. I no longer have to be a credit, I don't have to be a symbol to anybody; I don't have to be a first to anybody.

Due to the Red Scare and her left-leaning political views Horne found herself blacklisted and unable to get work in Hollywood. Returning to her roots as a nightclub performer Horne took part in the March on Washington in August 1963 and continued to work as a performer both in nightclubs and on television while releasing well-received record albums.