A few weeks ago one of our great leaders in the struggle for equality and human rights for all people died, at the age of 98. I'm speaking of Dorothy Height. When you think about the civil rights movement, the first name that comes to mind is Martin Luther King, Jr. Don't forget Dorothy Height. She worked for more than half a century for equality for all, trying to bring her passionate commitment for a just society to all mankind.
Dorothy was born in 1912 in Richmond, Virginia, educated in public schools in Pennsylvania. She established herself early as an exceptional student and great orator. She attended NYU for her bachelors and masters degrees, then Columbia for her postgraduate work in Social Work.
In 1933 Height became a leader of the United Christian Youth Movement. It was during that period that her career as a civil rights advocate began to unfold as she worked to prevent lynching, desegrate the armed forces, reform the criminal justice system and fro free access to public accommodations.
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 Bethune, founder and president of the Nationsl Council of Negro Women, noticed young Height and hired her. The following year she was one of ten women invited to Hyde Park, NY to the home of Eleanor Roosevelt, to plan and prepare for the World Youth Conference.
For thirty three years Height served on the staff of the National Board of the YWCA. Throughout her illustrious career she helped train many women throughout the world to help improve the lives of all women. She received volumunious awards along the way, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004. She was truly a giant in the Civil Rights Movement and she will be missed.
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