← Dorothy I. Height: Her Life in Pictures

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By Deborah Creighton Skinner | Published March 29, 2010 | Full size is 235 × 275 pixels

For nearly half a century, Dorothy Irene Height has been a vocal champion and leader in the Civil Rights movement. As the only female member among the major leaders of the Civil Rights Movement—along with Martin Luther King, Whitney H. Young, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins and John Lewis—Height fought for equality and human rights for all people. Among her numerous accomplishments: Height was named to address issues of duress during the aftermath of the Harlem riot of 1935; appointed leader of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America in the New Deal era (1933); was on the staff of the National Board of the YWCA of the USA (1944 - 1977); elected president of the National Council of Negro Women (1957-1998); and received the NAACP Spingarn Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bill Clinton, and the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian and most distinguished award presented by the U.S. Congress. She was as well known for her extensive collection of hats, as well as for her indomitable spirit. (Image source: New York University) (Click here to view Women of Power Legacy Award Dorothy Height Tribute video.)

For nearly half a century, Dorothy Irene Height has been a vocal champion and leader…