Celebrating Black History Month - Dorothy Height

Dorothy Height (1912–2010)

Dorothy Height (1912–2010) was a civil rights and women's rights activist who played a crucial role in advocating for racial and gender equality in the United States.

Key Contributions:

• President of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) for over 40 years, where she worked to improve opportunities for African American women.

• Leader in the Civil Rights Movement, working alongside Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and other key figures.

• Advocated for Voting Rights and Education, helping to organize voter registration drives and programs for better schooling and job training.

• Pushed for Gender Equality, especially focusing on issues affecting Black women who faced both racial and gender discrimination.

• Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994) and the Congressional Gold Medal (2004) for her lifelong dedication to justice.

Dorothy Height was often called the "godmother of the civil rights movement" because of her behind-the-scenes influence on major social and political changes.