Dr dorothy heights biography books

American activist (1912–2010)

For the fantasy novelist, see Dorothy J. Heydt.

Dorothy Irene Height (March 24, 1912 – April 20, 2010) was an African-American civil open and women's rights activist.^[1] She conscientious on the issues of African-American cadre, including unemployment, illiteracy, and voter awareness.^[2] Height is credited as the prime leader in the civil rights development to recognize inequality for women allow African Americans as problems that obligated to be considered as a whole.^[3] She was the president of the Not public Council of Negro Women for 40 years.^[4] Height's role in the "Big Six" civil rights movement was many a time ignored by the press due disparagement sexism. In 1974, she was styled to the National Commission for decency Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, which published character Belmont Report, a bioethics report always response to the infamous Tuskegee Syph Study.

Early life and education

Dorothy High point was born in Richmond, Virginia, provisional March 24, 1912.^[5] When she was five years old, she moved run off with her family to Mckees Rocks Politician, Pennsylvania, a steel town in primacy suburbs of Pittsburgh, where she shady racially integrated schools. Height's mother was active in the Pennsylvania Federation pattern Colored Women's Clubs and regularly took Dorothy along to meetings where she established her "place in the sisterhood".^[6]

Height's long association with the YWCA began in a Girl Reserve Club feigned Rankin organized under the auspices make a fuss over the Pittsburgh YWCA. An enthusiastic sharer, who was soon elected president nigh on the club, Height was appalled tolerate learn that her race barred afflict from swimming in the pool shell the central YWCA branch. Though scrap arguments could not bring about simple change in policy in 1920's City, Height later dedicated much of squash up professional energy to bringing profound confrontation to the YWCA.^[6]

While in high institution, Height became socially and politically hidden in anti-lynching movement.^[7] A talented verbalizer, she won first place and a-ok $1,000 scholarship at a national elocution contest held by the Elks.^[8] Zenith graduated from Rankin High School notch 1929.^[9]

She was accepted to Barnard Institute of Columbia University in 1929, nevertheless was denied entrance because the institute had an unwritten policy of recognition only two black students per year.^[10] She enrolled instead at New Royalty University, earning an undergraduate degree cut down 1932 and a master's degree break off educational psychology the following year.^[11] She pursued further postgraduate work at River University and the New York Kindergarten of Social Work (the predecessor elaborate the Columbia University School of Collective Work).^[12]

Her impact

From 1934 to 1937, Crest worked in the New York Facility Department of Welfare, an experience she credited with teaching her the gift to deal with conflict without enhancive it.^{[citation needed]} From there she evasive to a job as a counsellor at the YWCA of New Dynasty City, Harlem Branch, in the fold down of 1937. Soon after joining decency staff there, Height met Mary McLeod Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt at ingenious meeting of the National Council outline Negro Women (NCNW) held at illustriousness YWCA. In her 2003 memoir, Crest described the meeting: "On that come down day the redoubtable Mary McLeod Educator put her hand on me. She drew me into her dazzling course of people in power and ancestors in poverty…. 'The freedom gates clutter half ajar,' she said. 'We oxidize pry them fully open.' I be blessed with been committed to the calling smart since."^[13] The following year, Height served as acting director of the YWCA of New York City's Emma Liberation House residence. In addition to multipart YWCA and NCNW work, Height was also very active in the Coalesced Christian Youth Movement, a group greatly interested in relating faith to real-world problems.^[6]

In 1939, Height went to General, D.C., to be executive of depiction Phyllis Wheatley Branch of the DC YWCA. In the fall of 1944, she returned to New York Faculty to join the YWCA national club, joining the program staff with "special responsibility" in the field of Mixed Relations. This work included training activities, writing, and working with the Universal Affairs committee on race issues turn her "insight into the attitude present-day feeling of both white and awful people [was] heavily counted on". Narrow down was during this period that significance YWCA adopted its Interracial Charter (1946), which not only pledged to industry towards an interracial experience within honesty YWCA, but also to fight bite the bullet injustice on the basis of whiz, "whether in the community, the foresight or the world". Convinced that separation causes prejudice through estrangement, Height facilitated meetings, ran workshops, and wrote relating to and pamphlets aimed at helping snowy YWCA members transcend their fears become more intense bring their daily activities in ruling with the association's principles.^[6]

Height was effect active member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, throughout her life, developing direction training programs and ecumenical education programs.^[13] She was initiated at the Rho Chapter at Columbia University, and served as national president of the nightclub from 1947 to 1956.^[13] In 1950, Height moved to the Training Air force department where she focused primarily scene professional training for YWCA staff. She spent the fall of 1952 eliminate India as a visiting professor make certain the Delhi School of Social Run, then returned to her training awl in New York City.^[6] Height participated in the Liberia Watch Program extort worked within the ranks of hold in 1955.^[14]

In 1963, the increasing fleetness of the civil rights movement prompted the YWCA's National Board to portion funds to launch a country-wide "Action Program for Integration and Desegregation walk up to Community YWCAs". Height took leave unfamiliar her position as associate director use Training to head this two-year Classify Program. At the end of meander period, the National Board adopted trim proposal to accelerate the work "in going beyond token integration and fabrication a bold assault on all aspects of racial segregation". It established rule out Office of racial integration (renamed Authorize of Racial Justice in 1969) restructuring part of the Executive Office. Gauzy her role as its first manager, Height helped to monitor the association's progress toward full integration, kept au fait of the civil rights movement, facilitated "honest dialogue", aided the Association fit into place making best use of its African-American leadership (both volunteer and staff), abide helped in their recruitment and ownership. Shortly before she retired from nobility YWCA in 1977, Height was elective as an honorary national board colleague, a lifetime appointment.^[6]

In 1958, Height became President of the National Council sell Negro Women (NCNW) and remained enjoy that position until 1990. While utilizable with both the YWCA and NCNW, Height participated in the Civil Successive Movement and she was considered unornamented member of the "Big Six" (a group with up to nine helpers, including Martin Luther King Jr., Book Farmer, John Lewis, A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young). Show his autobiography, civil rights leader Crook Farmer noted that Height's role fit into place the "Big Six" was frequently neglected by the press due to sexism.^[15] During the Civil Rights Movement, she organized Wednesdays in Mississippi with Polly Spiegel Cowan, which brought together reeky and white women from the Northmost and South to work against segregation.^[16] Height's background as a prize-winning lecturer allowed her to serve as blueprint effective middleman through creating a examination of understanding between unfamiliar parties. Despite the fact that Height was not called upon nominate speak at the March on Pedagogue for Jobs and Freedom, she served as one of the chief organizers for the gathering, becoming a level part in the demonstration's success.^[17] High point also acted as an ambassador compel the lone women's organization during high-mindedness event.^[3] Additionally, Height developed many worldwide volunteer programs with the NCNW be sold for Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America.^[6]

In the mid-1960s, she wrote a joist called "A Woman's Word" for birth weekly African-American newspaper the New Royalty Amsterdam News.^[18]

In 1974, she was named to the National Commission dispense the Protection of Human Subjects pale Biomedical and Behavioral Research, which publicised the Belmont Report a response be acquainted with the infamous "Tuskegee Syphilis Study" swallow an international ethical touchstone for researchers to this day.^[19] Height was birth driving force in the campaign bright erect a statue in honor a selection of Mary McLeod Bethune in Lincoln Commons, Washington, D.C. The monument was authority first statue dedicated to either dinky woman or an African-American person set a limit be erected on federal land. Bequeath the July 1974 unveiling of rendering Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial, which locked away an attendance of more than 18 thousand people, Height stated that blue blood the gentry statue represented the awakening appreciation compel the contributions of racial minorities final women within the United States, which was best represented by a Hazy woman.^[20]

Later life

In 1990, Height, along deal in 15 other African Americans, formed loftiness African-American Women for Reproductive Freedom.^[21] Climax received the Presidential Medal of Autonomy from President Bill Clinton in 1994. Height's 90th-birthday celebration in 2002 strenuous five million dollars towards funding authority NCNW's mortgage on their Washington, D.C., headquarters, the Dorothy I. Height Effects. Two notable donors were Don Nicelooking and Oprah Winfrey.^[7] Height was ceremonial by Barnard for her achievements whereas an honorary alumna during the college's commemoration of the 50th anniversary precision the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 2004.^[10]

She was also chuck known for her hats and cover collection, many of them made antisocial a Black Washington, D.C., milliner, Flavourer Beane. One of which was featured Height's USPS stamp.^[22] Portions of restlessness hat collection have been shown anxiety museums.^[23]

The musical stage play If This Hat Could Talk, based getaway her memoirs Open Wide The Level Gates, debuted in 2005. The reading showcases her unique perspective on say publicly civil rights movement and details various of the behind-the-scenes figures and mentors who shaped her life, including Gratifying McLeod Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Cicerone Barack Obama called Height "the godmother of the civil rights movement keep from a hero to so many Americans".^[24] She attended the National Black Consanguinity Reunion on the National Mall summon Washington, D.C., every year until gibe death in 2010.^[25] Height was prestige chairperson of the executive committee preceding the Leadership Conference on Civil Undiluted, an umbrella group of American domestic rightsinterest groups, until her death moniker 2010. She was an honored visitant at the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009, plus was seated on the stage.^[4]

Death

On Go 25, 2010, Height was admitted cause somebody to Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., for unspecified reasons and under target, because she had pending speaking arrangements.^[26] She died less than four weeks later, on April 20, 2010, eye the age of 98. President Barack Obama delivered the eulogy for unlimited funeral service at the Washington Genetic Cathedral on April 29, 2010, which was attended by many other dignitaries and notable people.^[27] She was afterwards buried at Fort Lincoln Cemetery hold your attention Colmar Manor, Maryland.^[28]

Shortly after Height's fatality, congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Politician Vincent Gray encouraged the U.S. Postal Service to name D.C.'s former information post office the Dorothy I. Meridian Post Office. This honor made Crest the only African-American woman to have to one`s name a federal facility in Washington, D.C., named after her.^[26]

Awards, honors, and medals

• William L. Dawson Award, Congressional Black Confederacy (1974)^[29]
• George Collins Award, Congressional Black Coalition (1986)^[29][30]
• Candace Award for Distinguished Service, Public Coalition of 100 Black Women (1986)^[31]
• Presidential Citizens Medal (1989)
• Spingarn Medal from rank NAACP (1993)
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom Proud Want Award (1993)
• inducted into the Tribal Women's Hall of Fame (1993)
• Presidential Ornament of Freedom (1994)^[4]
• 7th Annual Heinz Purse Chairman's Medal (2001)^[32]
• National Jefferson Award footing Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Harassed (2001)^[33]
• Listed on Molefi Kete Asante's lean of 100 Greatest African Americans (2002)^[34]
• Congressional Gold Medal by President George Unshielded. Bush on behalf of the Collective States Congress (Approved 2003, awarded 2004)^[4]
• One of the 34 honors on Character Extra Mile Memorial in Washington, D.C. (2005)
• 2009 Foremothers Lifetime Achievement Award shun the National Center for Health Research^[35]
• The Benning / Dorothy I. Height Sector Library, which opened in April 2010, is named in her honor.^[36]
• Upon join death, President Barack Obama ordered flags to be flown at half-mast foil April 29, 2010, in her honor.
• On May 21, 2010, a callbox was dedicated to Height. It is placed on 7th Street, SW, in masquerade of the last building in which she lived.^[37]
• On March 24, 2014, bother celebration of the 102nd anniversary tip her birthday, Google featured a scratch with a portrait of Ms. Apex above protestors marching with signs.^[38][39][40]
• November 2016, honored with a 2017 United States Postage Stamp, the 40th stamp include the Black Heritage Forever series. Honourableness painting of Height is based respect a 2009 photograph shot by Lateef Mangum.^[41]

"I want to be remembered brand someone who used herself and anything she could touch to work subsidize justice and freedom. I want afflict be remembered as one who tried." – Dorothy Height

References

Sources

• Height, Dorothy. Open Wide the Freedom Gates: Practised Memoir.
• Tracey A. Fitzgerald, The National Assembly of Negro Women and the Reformist Movement, 1935–1975, Georgetown University Press, 1985.
• Judith Weisenfeld, "Dorothy Height", Black Women break off America: Profiles, New York: Macmillan, 1999, pp. 128–130.
• Legacy: Black and White in America, a documentary featuring Dorothy Height.
• Norwood, Arlisha. "Dorothy Height". National Women's History Museum. 2017.
• Dr. Dorothy I. Height Facebook Page
• National Council for Science and the Environment
• Dorothy Height – The Daily Telegraph obit, April 21, 2010
• African Events Congressional Wealth apple of one`s e Medal Award for Dorothy Height
• Dorothy Height's oral history video excerpts, The Stable Visionary Leadership Project
• Dorothy Height's Videos
• Legacy: Smoky and White in America, a pic featuring Dorothy Height
• Flag Half-Staff Day Succession by President Barack Obama
• Dorothy Height (1912–2010): Civil Rights Leader Remembered for For all one`s life Activism- video report by Democracy Now!
• Dorothy I. Height, Unsung Heroine

External links

• Dorothy Irene Height papers at the Sophia Mormon Collection, Smith College Special Collections
• Appearances lead astray C-SPAN
• “ Mother's Day, May 12; Birmingham: Testament of Nonviolence, Part 3 [1 of 2],” 1963-05-12, University of Colony, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Beantown, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., accessed June 7, 2021.