Born in RichmondVirginia March 241912Dorothy Irene Height provided leadership for nearly half a centuryin the struggle for equality and human rights for all people. Her life exemplifies her passionate commitment for a just society and her vision of a better world.
Educated in public schools in RankinPaa borough of Pittsburghwhere her family moved when she was fourHeight established herself early as a dedicated student with exceptional oratorical skills. After winning a $1,000 scholarship in a national oratorical contest on the United States Constitutionsponsored by the Elksand a record of scholastic excellenceshe attended New York University and earned her bachelor and master’s degrees in four years. She did postgraduate work at Columbia University and the New York School of Social Work.
Accomplishments and Contributions
- In 1933Height became a leader of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America in the New Deal era. It was during this period that Height’s career as a civil rights advocate began to unfoldas she worked to prevent lynchingdesegregate the armed forcesreform the criminal justice system and for free access to public accommodations.
- Height was named to deal with the outcome of the Harlem riot of 1935. Height was an organizer and served as Vice President of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America. In this capacity she was chosen as one of 10 American youth delegates to the World Conference on Life and Work of the Churches in Oxford England. Two years later (1939)she was a representative of the YWCA to the World Conference of Christian Youth in Amsterdam Holland.
- 1937 was the turning point in the life of Dorothy Height. She was serving as Assistant Executive Director of the Harlem YWCA when Mary McLeod Bethunefounder and president of the National Council of Negro Womennoticed young Height who was escorting Eleanor Roosevelt into the NCNW meeting. Mrs. Bethune invited Height to join NCNW in her quest for women’s rights to full and equal employmentpay and education.
- In 1938Height was one of 10 American youth invited by Eleanor Roosevelt to spend a weekend at her Hyde Park NY home to plan and prepare for the World Youth Conference to be held at Vassar College.
- Height served in her dual role as YWCA Staff member and NCNW volunteerintegrating her training as a social worker and her commitment to rise above the limitations of race and sex. She rose quickly through the ranks of the YWCAfrom the Emma Ransom House in Harlem to the Executive Director of the Phyllis Wheatley Association in Washington D.C. and to the National Staff.
- For thirty-three years – (1944 – 1977)Height served on the staff of the National Board of the YWCA of the USA and held several leadership positions in Public Affairs and Leadership Training and as Director of the National YWCA School for Professional Workers. In 1965she was inaugurated and became Director of the Center for Racial Justicea position she held until her retirement.
- In l952Height served as visiting professor at the University of DelhiIndiain the Delhi School of Social Workwhich was founded by the YWCAs of IndiaBurma and Ceylon. She became known for her internationalism and humanitarianismand conducted international studies and travel to expand the work of the YWCA.
- Height made a study of the training of women’s organizations in five African countries: LiberiaGhanaGuineaSierra Leone and Nigeria under the Committee of Correspondence.
- Height was elected National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1947 – and served until l956. She carried the Sorority to a new level of organizational developmentinitiation eligibility and social action throughout her term. Her leadership training skillssocial work background and knowledge of volunteerism benefited the Sorority as it moved into a new era of activism on the national and international scene.
- In l957Height was elected fourth National President of NCNW and served until l998 when she became Chair and President Emerita.
- In 1960Height was the woman team member leader in the United Civil Rights Leadership along with Martin Luther KingWhitney H. YoungA. Philip RandolphJames FarmerRoy Wilkins and John Lewis.
- In 1961while Height was participating in major Civil Rights leadershipshe led NCNW to deal with unmet needs among women and their families to combat hungerdevelop cooperative pig banksprovided families with community freezers and showersetc..
- In 1964after the passage of the Civil Rights ActHeight with Polly Cowanan NCNW Board Memberorganized teams of women of different races and faith as “Wednesdays In Mississippi” to assist in the freedom schools and open communication between women of difference races. The workshops which followed stressed the need for decent housing which became the basis for NCNW in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop Turnkey III Home Ownership for low income families in Gulfport Mississippi.
- In l970Height directed the series of activities culminating in the YWCA Convention adopting as its “One Imperative” to the elimination of racism.
- In 1970Height established the Women’s Center for Education and Career Advancement in New York City to prepare women for entry level jobs. From this experience in 1975Height in collaboration with Pace College established a first-time Associate Degree for Professional Studies (AAPS) – now incorporated as a regular professional studies degree course at Pace University.
- In l975Height participated in the Tribunal at the International Women’s Year Conference of the United Nations in Mexico City. As a result of this experienceNCNW was awarded a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to hold a conference within the conference for women from the United StatesAfrican countriesSouth AmericaMexico and the Caribbean. This was followed with a site visit with 50 of the women to visit with rural women in Mississippi.
- Under the auspices of the USAIDHeight lectured in South Africa after addressing the National Convention of the Black Women’s Federation of South Africa near Johannesburg (1977).
- Height led a crusade for justice for Black women and since l986 worked to strengthen the Black family. Under her leadership:
- In 1966NCNW achieved tax-exempt status.
- In 1974NCNW dedicated the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune in Lincoln ParkWashington D C; the first woman on public land in the Nation’s Capital and to an African American or woman of any race.
- Developed model national and community-based programs ranging from teen-age parenting to pig “banks” – which addressed hunger in rural areas – and were replicated by many other groups.
- Established the Bethune Museum and Archives for Black Womenthe first institution devoted to black women’s history; and established the Bethune Council House as a national historic site.
- Height placed NCNW on a course of issue-oriented politicssponsoring “Wednesdays in Mississippi” when interracial groups of women would help out at Freedom Schools; voter registration drives in the South; and established communications between black and white women.
- Established the Black Family Reunion Celebration in 1986 to reinforce the historic strengths and traditional values of the Black family.
Awards and Honors
Dorothy I. Height has received awards and citations including the:
- John F. Kennedy Memorial Award
- Hadassah Myrtle Wreath of Achievement
- Ministerial Interfaith Association Award
- Ladies Home Journal – Woman of the Year
- Congressional Black Caucus – Decades of Service
- President Ronald Reagan – Citizens Medal
- Franklin Roosevelt – Freedom Medal
- Essence Award
- Camille Cosby World of Children Award
- Caring Institute – Caring Award
- NAACP – Spingarn Medal
- National Women’s Hall of Fame
- President Bill Clinton – Presidential Medal of Freedom
- On Height’s 92nd birthday March 242004President George W. Bush presented her the Congressional Gold Medalthe highest civilian and most distinguished award presented by the United States Congress.
She has received thirty-six Honorary Doctorate Degrees from universities and colleges such as: Tuskegee UniversitySpelman CollegePace UniversityBennett CollegeLincoln UniversityHarvard UniversityHoward UniversityPrinceton UniversityNew York UniversityMorehouse CollegeMeharry Medical CollegeColumbia University.