Social activist Dorothy Height was born in Richmond, Virginia, on March 24, 1912.
At an early age, she moved with her family to Rankin, Pennsylvania. While in high school, Height was awarded a scholarship to New York University for her oratory skills, where she studied and earned her master’s degree.
Height began her career working as a caseworker with the New York City Welfare Department, but at the age of twenty-five, she began her career as a civil rights activist when she joined the National Council of Negro Women. She fought for equal rights for both African Americans and women, and in 1944 she joined the national staff of the YWCA. She remained active with the organization until 1977, and while there she developed leadership training programs and interracial and ecumenical education programs.
In 1957, Height was named president of the National Council of Negro Women, a position she held until 1997. During the height of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Height organized “Wednesdays in Mississippi,” which brought together black and white women from the north and South to create a dialogue of understanding. Leaders of the United States regularly took her counsel, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and Height also encouraged President Dwight D. Eisenhower to desegregate schools and President Lyndon B. Johnson to appoint African American women to positions in government.
Height has served on a number of committees, including as a consultant on African affairs to the secretary of state, the President’s Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped and the President’s Committee on the Status of Women. Her tireless efforts for equal rights have earned her the praise and recognition of numerous organizations, as well. She has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom From Want Award and the NAACP Spingarn Medal. She has also been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2004, Height was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush.
To read more, go to History Makers.
Dorothy I. Height has received many awards and citations. See list compiled by NCNW:
- 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 24, 2004, President George W. Bush presented her the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian and most distinguished award presented by the United States Congress.
Learn more about Dr. Dorothy Height by adding her book to your collection and sharing it with someone else.
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She has been an untiring advocate on the front line for a long time. Thanks for highlighting her work.
Wow..the long list of awards are simply amazing. Admirable, even. This is a special and awe-inspiring person. Thanks for sharing this information. Now, I want to SHOUT it from the mountains. This is OUR history.
I am so proud of this lady – just like she is part of my family. She has always been one of my sheroes!
Ms. Height is an example to all of us on how to conduct our lives.