|
Obama, Black lawmakers lament loss of Dorothy Height
By Staff
President Obama said of Height: "Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dorothy Height - the godmother of the Civil Rights Movement and a hero to so many Americans. Ever since she was denied entrance to college because the incoming class had already met its quota of two African American women, Dr. Height devoted her life to those struggling for equality. She led the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, and served as the only woman at the highest level of the Civil Rights Movement - witnessing every march and milestone along the way. And even in the final weeks of her life a time when anyone else would have enjoyed their well-earned rest Dr. Height continued her fight to make our nation a more open and inclusive place for people of every race, gender, background and faith. Michelle and I offer our condolences to all those who knew and loved Dr. Height and all those whose lives she touched."
CBC Chair Lee lauds Height
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement today after learning of the passing of legendary civil rights leader Height:
On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Dorothy I. Height, a bold and brilliant African American woman who blazed many trails and opened many doors for a countless number of Americans, particularly the empowerment of women and girls, during her life-long quest for justice.
Today, with the passing of Dr. Height, our nation mourns the loss of a true national treasure whose leadership in the struggle for equality and human rights for all people should be an inspiration to all Americans. Her undying commitment to a just society and vision for a better world undergirds the work of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Throughout her life, Dr. Height wore many hatsliterally and figuratively with elegance and dignity, excellence and determination. From her legendary stewardship of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. as National President to her unprecedented 41-year tenure at the helm of the National Council of Negro Women, Dr. Height always led with courage and strength.
Today we mourn the loss, but celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Heighta visionary and great humanitarian who gave us all so much.
NAACP lauds Height
The NAACP family is saddened by the passing of Height, civil rights pioneer, social justice advocate and long time friend of the NAACP.
Dr. Dorothy I. Height was the beloved matriarch of the civil rights movement, stated NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock. The nation has lost a stalwart champion for civil rights and gender equality. With perseverance and strong determination Dr. Height broke through the proverbial glass ceiling as the only woman working side by side with the Big Six to secure civil rights legislation in the 1950s and 60s. Today we have lost a strong voice and champion for women and children. Her lasting contributions will live on through the lives of those she touched and mentored, added Brock.
I was introduced to the legacy of Dr. Dorothy Height through my 93 year-old grandmother, who considered Dr. Height one of her heroes. Our first meeting was at the 1993 March on Washington, where I was an organizer for the event. Dr. Height was a tireless and committed fighter for civil rights. Despite being in poor health, she joined the NAACP late last year in our health care war room to advocate for health care room. The defining legacy of Dr. Height will be the countless individuals she inspired and mentored into positions of great leadership, stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. She will be most remembered for what she did to encourage women to reach greater levels of achievement, but the truth is that she also guided and mentored the ambition to service and contributions of thousands of men. Her passion for a just society and her vision for a better world inspires us all.
Dr. Height never saw a mountain she could not overcome, from being denied entry to Barnard College to achieving a masters degree in psychology at NYU and lobbying President Kennedy to sign the Equal Pay Act in 1963. She was the matriarch of the civil rights movement, and will be greatly missed, added NAACP Chairman Emeritus Julian Bond.
NAACP Chairman Emeritus Myrlie Evers-Williams reflected: I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Dr. Dorothy Height. I recall her formidable presence when she spoke during the funeral of my husband Medgar. She spoke earnestly about the civil rights struggle and how the conditions affected young people, especially about their treatment at the hands of law enforcement. Although childless, she was Mother to all of usshe was family. Hers was a steady, loving influence on all of us involved in the struggle for justice and equality. She was a woman of great drive who never lost sight of the goal of equal rights and human rights for all Americans, particularly women. Her program, Wednesdays in Mississippi brought together hundreds of young women to register to vote and make sure their voices were heard in elections and in our democracy. America has lost an icon todayan illustrious beacon shining on the human spirit. We shared a remarkable time together in the civil rights movement, and now I share with the rest of the world in mourning the loss of such a wonderfully caring and spiritual woman.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
Rep. John Lewis Marks the Passing of Historic Icon Dorothy Height
Today the eminent head of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the successor to its esteemed founder, educator Mary McLeod Bethune, died in a Washington, D.C. hospital. Rep. John Lewis made this statement, when he learned about her passing:
Today we have lost a great American, a brave and courageous woman who worked tirelessly for the cause of civil rights and social justice. Dr. Dorothy Height was a counselor to every White House from the time of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, offering her wisdom and guidance to help make this world a better place.
Story continues below ↓
|
Advertisement |
|
|
I will never forget the Wednesdays in Mississippi program that she developed during the Civil Rights Movement to bring women of different races and faiths to the Deep South. She helped build bridges and form relationships that sensitized women in the North to the problems in the South. She also saw the need for economic empowerment and created the cooperative pig bank program, which offered rural families a chance to build greater financial security and independence. These and many other programs she develop for the last 60 years helped to change the shape of America.
Dorothy Height dedicated her entire life to the service of all human kind. She was an inspiration to so many people, especially young people and women. Her stylish presence and her unyielding commitment to do what is right, what is good, and what is in the best interest of all human kind will be deeply missed.
Statement by representative fudge on the Passing of Civil Rights Matriarch Dr. Dorothy Height
Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) issued the following statement on the passing of Height, Civil Rights advocate and humanitarian:
"Today Civil Rights icon and humanitarian Dr. Dorothy Height passed away. She was my friend, my mentor, and my predecessor as national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
"Dr. Height was passionate about justice and equality. Everything she did, every position she held, and every policy she advocated, served her life's missionto eliminate barriers to success for women and blacks while inspiring the next generation to greatness.
"Even though Presidents and other world leaders sought her counsel, she always took the time to advise and encourage young women.
"While we mourn her loss, we also celebrate the life of Dr. Heighta great humanitarian who leaves a legacy of strong and caring women.
Today, Rep. Fudge will introduce a resolution
celebrating Dr. Height's life and recognizing her work.
Dr. Height served as President of the National Council of Negro
Women for four decades, stepping down from the position in
1997. In her position with the Council, which connected nearly 4
million women worldwide, she tackled issues that affected
families, including child care for working mothers, health and
nutrition and providing adequate housing for families in need.
She served as the national president of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc. from 1947 until 1957.
Widely recognized as one of the founding
members of the Civil Rights movement, Dr. Height was awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 by President Bill Clinton.
In 2004, she received the Congressional Gold Medal.
Dr. Height fought for equal rights for both women and blacks,
and was active in such causes as securing voting rights, equal
employment opportunities and the desegregation of public
schools. Marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she
advocated womens rights during the Civil Rights struggle. Dr.
Height was instrumental in the fight for equal pay for women and
organized numerous programs to help women achieve equal rights
and independence.
Waters on the Passing of Civil Rights Leader Dr. Dorothy Height
Rep. Maxine Waters issued the following statement upon learning of the death of noted civil rights leader and icon Height:
Today our country has lost a great leader, an effective and passionate advocate and an inspiring woman. Im deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Dorothy Height, my dear friend and a true national treasure.
For 40 years she was the president of the National Council of Negro Women, and during that time she created the great Black family reunions that were held across this country that helped to unite communities, families and individuals, and give support to the concerted efforts to strengthen the African American family unit.
Dr. Height made it clear she was an educator, no doubt because of her close friendship and working relationship with Mary McLeod Bethune, the famed educator and civil rights icon.
Partly in Marys image and partly because of her own passion and perseverance, Dr. Height went on to be the key woman involved in the civil rights movement, marching in the streets of New York, standing with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial and being the only woman in attendance at the meeting with President Lyndon B. Johnson that helped shape the civil rights bill.
In fact, she had the ear of many presidents. Dr. Height recently took part in a roundtable discussion with President Barack Obama, discussing job creation and other issues in the African American community.
Dr. Height was often called upon by national, community, women and civil rights groups to be a spokesperson and an adviser, and she regularly attended national and international conferences on women.
I was honored to be a Member of Congress in 2004 when we presented Dr. Height with the Congressional Gold Medal the highest civilian award in the U.S.
I joined Dr. Height at an event last year to support Cora Masters Barry and a recreation and education center in Washington, DC that serves many children, but was facing closure because of a legal technicality. Her intervention in part helped convince the city to keep the facility open.
Dr. Height never let her age or her physical condition prevent her from advocating for children, women, or communities of color during a life that spanned 98 years.
Dr. Heights accomplishments, like her hats, are too numerous and too great to be properly addressed here. She was an icon, a legend and a fierce advocate for the civil rights of African Americans and for the empowerment of women and girls. Dr. Heights presence was certainly felt throughout this country for more than half a century, and her leadership and her grace will surely be missed. I am a better person for having known and worked with her, and our country has benefited immensely from her lifes work.
My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Heights family and friends, and to the countless people whose lives were impacted by this great woman.
Cummings Mourns The Loss Of Dorothy I. Height
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, (MD-07) today mourned the loss of Height, whose work as President of the National Council of Negro Women, and as a civil rights pioneer in the 1950s and 60s helped desegregate schools, assure equal access to public facilities and encourage voting rights.
Dorothy Height was a woman of stunning dedication, discipline and vision, said Cummings. In the press and the history books, her time was often overshadowed by the men of the Civil Rights movement. However, in the hearts and minds of the millions who she touched, she will never be forgotten.
While Dorothy Height stood with Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for his famous I have a dream speech, she stood tall in her own right as well. Her time with the National Council of Negro Women caused great change in our nation and though she was not always acknowledged, her effect on history is unmistakable. I was proud to see her awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004, for a wonderful life of service. Millions of women have lost a role model and America has lost one of our true treasures. My prayers are with Ms. Heights friends and family during their time of loss.
Height passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 98.
Return to
ReddingNewsReview.com
© RCI
2010. All Rights
Reserved.
