(1912-2010)

Who Was Dorothy Height?

Dorothy Height was a leader in addressing the rights of both women and African Americans as the president of the National Council of Negro Women. In the 1990sshe drew young people into her cause in the war against drugsilliteracy and unemployment. The numerous honors bestowed upon her include the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994) and the Congressional Gold Medal (2004).

Early Life

Born on March 241912in RichmondVirginiaHeight spent her life fighting for civil rights and women's rights. The daughter of a building contractor and a nurseHeight moved with her family to RankinPennsylvaniain her youth. Thereshe attended racially integrated schools.

In high schoolHeight showed great talent as an orator. She also became socially and politically activeparticipating in anti-lynching campaigns. Height's skills as a speaker took her all the way to a national oratory competition. Winning the eventshe was awarded a college scholarship.

Height had applied to and been accepted to Barnard College in New Yorkbut as the start of school nearedthe college changed its mind about her admittancetelling Height that they had already met their quota for Black students. Undeterredshe applied to New York Universitywhere she would earn two degrees: a bachelor's degree in education in 1930and a master's degree in psychology in 1932.

Tireless Activist

After working for a time as a social workerHeight joined the staff of the Harlem YWCA in 1937. She had a life-changing encounter not long after starting work there. Height met educator and founder of the National Council of Negro Women Mary McLeod Bethune when Bethune and U.S. first lady Eleanor Roosevelt came to visit her facility. Height soon volunteered with the NCNW and became close to Bethune.

One of Height's major accomplishments at the YWCA was directing the integration of all of its centers in 1946. She also established its Center for Racial Justice in 1965which she ran until 1977. In 1957Height became the president of the National Council of Negro Women. Through the center and the councilshe became one of the leading figures of the civil rights movement. Height worked with Martin Luther King Jr., A. Philip RandolphRoy WilkinsWhitney YoungJohn Lewis and James Farmer — sometimes called the "Big Six" of the civil rights movement — on different campaigns and initiatives.

In 1963Height was one of the organizers of the famed March on Washington. She stood close to King when he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. Despite her skills as a speaker and a leaderHeight was not invited to talk that day.

Height later wrote that the March on Washington event had been an eye-opening experience for her. Her male counterparts "were happy to include women in the human familybut there was no question as to who headed the household," she saidaccording to the Los Angeles Times. Height joined in the fight for women's rights. In 1971she helped found the National Women's Political Caucus with Gloria SteinemBetty Friedan and Shirley Chisholm.

While she retired from the YWCA in 1977Height continued to run the NCNW for two more decades. One of her later projects was focused on strengthening the African American family. In 1986Height organized the first Black Family Reuniona celebration of traditions and values which is still held annually.

Later Years and Death

Height received many honors for her contributions to society. In 1994President Bill Clinton awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She stepped down from the presidency of the NCNW in the late 1990sbut remained the organization's chair of the board until her death in 2010. In 2002Height turned her 90th birthday celebration into a fundraiser for the NCNW; Oprah Winfrey and Don King were among the celebrities who contributed to the event.

In 2004President George W. Bush gave Height the Congressional Gold Medal. She later befriended the first African American president of the United StatesBarack Obamawho called her "the godmother of the civil rights movement," according to The New York Times. Height died in WashingtonD.C.on April 202010.

Former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was among the many who mourned the passing of the famed champion for equality and justice. Clinton told the Washington Post that Height "understood that women's rights and civil rights are indivisible. She stood up for the rights of women every chance she had."

On February 12017the United States Postal Service kicked off Black History Month with the issuance of the Dorothy Height Forever stamp honoring her civil rights legacy.

QUICK FACTS

  • Name: Dorothy Height
  • Birth Year: 1912
  • Birth date: March 24 1912
  • Birth State: Virginia
  • Birth City: Richmond
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Dorothy Height was a civil rights and women's rights activist focused primarily on improving the circumstances of and opportunities for African American women.
  • Industries
    • Civil Rights
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • New York University
  • Death Year: 2010
  • Death date: April 20 2010
  • Death State: WashingtonD.C.
  • Death Country: United States

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CITATION INFORMATION

  • Article Title: Dorothy Height Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/activists/dorothy-height
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: April 1 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2 2014

QUOTES

  • I have been in the proximity ofand threatened bythe Klan; I have been called everything people of color are called; I have been denied admission because of a quota. I've had all of thatbut I've also learned that getting bitter is not the way.
  • [Dorothy Height] understood that women's rights and civil rights are indivisible. She stood up for the rights of women every chance she had.