Dorothy Height
Dorothy Height
March 24, 1912 - April 20, 2010
This Civil Rights leader dedicated her life to advocating for women's rights. Thanks to her performance in a grade school Elks Club speech competition, Height was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Height went on to earn both her bachelor's degree in Education and master's degree in Educational Psychology from New York University, and then Columbia University for post-graduate work.
Height's work earned her the two highest civilian awards, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She served as chairperson of the National Council of Negro Women and was a driving force behind the Civil Rights movement, working directly with Dr. King, John Lewis, and other central Civil Rights figures.
Height helped organize the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Dr. King delivered his famous "I have a Dream" speech. Decades later with Shirley Chisholm and others, Height co-founded the National Women's Political Caucus.
The name Dorothy Height should be synonymous with 'Women's Rights' and 'Civil Rights.'
