Honoring and Remembering Dorothy Height

A Virginia native, Dr. Dorothy Height was a prominent leader in the civil rights movement. She dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of African American and women.

Background

Born on March 24, 1912, in Richmond, Virginia, Height became politically active early in life. In high school, she participated in anti-lynching campaigns and spoke out against racial injustice. After she was denied admission to Barnard College due to its racial quota for Black women, she instead attended New York University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in psychology.

Work in Activism

After graduating, Height worked as a social worker before joining the Harlem Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), a nonprofit focused on women’s rights. There, she met notable figures such as Mary McLeod Bethune, the founder of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She led the integration efforts at YWCA, and desegregated the organization by 1947—18 years before the official end of national segregation. Height volunteered with the NCNW and later became the president in 1957.

Height played an important role in the civil rights movement. She was a key organizer of the March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Though not given the opportunity to speak, her efforts made a huge contribution to the impact the event had on the nation. She managed back-end logistics, raised funds, and convinced organizers to allow King to speak at the end of the program. 

Known as the “Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement,” Height received numerous awards and honors, recognized by multiple U.S. presidents for her activism. In 1994, President Bill Clinton awarded her with the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She passed away on April 20, 2010, in Washington D.C., at 98 years old. Her legacy and contributions to civil rights continue to be remembered today. Her unwavering commitment to ending racial injustice and creating opportunities for Black women remains an inspiration. 

“Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.” – Dorothy Height