"Simply talking about bettering race relations
without dealing with (hanging the power relations
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will get us nowhere."
Dr. Dorothy Height
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orothy Height was born in Richmond, Va., in 1912, but moved to Rankin,
Pa., where she attended integrated schools and was an outstanding stu
dent. As a senior, Height won a $1,000 college scholarship in a national contest.
Her first college choice, Barnard College in New York City, told her that since the
school had two blacks enrolled, she would haVe to wait. Height went to New York
University where she earned bachelor's and master's degrees in four years.
Her first job was as a case worker for the New York City Welfare Department.
In 1937, she joined the National Council of Negro Women, becoming president in
1958. She served on the national staff of the YWCA from 1944 to 1977. Height par
ticipated in nearly all major civil and human rights events in the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1989, President Ronald Reagan presented her with the Citizens Medal
Award for distinguished service to the country.
In her career, Height has served on numerous major policy-making bodies
affecting women, social welfare, economic development, civil and human rights
and has received many appointments and awards. She has 19 honorary doctorates.
?Planters and LifeSavers Companies of Nabisco, Inc.
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