Dorothy Irene Height was born on March 24th, 1912 in Richmond, Virginia. Her family later moved to Rankin, Pennsylvania where she excelled as a student. Height eventually received a scholarship to attend college.
In 1929, she was admitted to Barnard College but was not allowed to attend because the school did not admit African Americans. Instead, Height went on to graduate from New York University where she received a bachelor’s in education and master’s in psychology.
Her first job was as a social worker in Harlem, New York. She later joined the staff of the Harlem Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). In no time, Height became a leader in the local organization. She created diverse programs and pushed the organization to integrate YWCA facilities nationwide.
“She worked relentlessly for racial and gender equality and inspired generations of people to take action for social justice,” said Diane Larche, national membership chairwoman for the National Council of Negro Women. “Her influence was so powerful that when she passed, President Obama called her the ‘Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement.’ And honestly, that title is so fitting, given her pivotal role in shaping the civil rights movement and American history.”
Height dedicated 40 years to the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), retiring in 1977. She also became the president of the National Council of Negro Women in 1957 and held the position until 1997. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, which champions public service in Black communities, she was a tireless advocate for women and minorities.
Height was a trailblazer, establishing the Center for Racial Justice and serving on President John F. Kennedy’s Commission on the Status of Women, which was chaired by none other than Eleanor Roosevelt.
Her contributions didn’t go unnoticed—she received two of the country’s highest civilian honors: the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton and the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush.
Dorothy Height passed away in 2010 at the age of 98.
