CWA Honors Legacy of Civil, Women's Rights Pioneer Dorothy Height

Read CWA President Larry Cohen's statement on the life and accomplishments of a true human rights pioneer, Dr. Dorothy Height:

The passing of civil and human rights pioneer Dorothy Height at age 98 calls on all of us to remember and honor a life lived with passion, purpose and achievement.

As a civil rights advocate in the early 1930s, Dr. Height took on the segregated institutions of that time and worked to make her vision of a just society a reality.

She was an acknowledged leader, standing side-by-side with the Rev. Dr.  Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, A. Philip Randolph and other civil rights leaders in the fight for racial equality and justice.

With Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm, Betty Friedan and other leaders of the women's movement, she helped found the National Women's Political Caucus and worked to close the economic and opportunity gap that women face. She continually sought to build allies within both the civil rights and women's movements. 

Dr. Height was the longtime president of the National Council of Negro Women, and beginning in 1994, she served as chair of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation's premier civil and human rights coalition. There, working with current LCCR President Wade Henderson, she directed many successful legislative campaigns, including the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2006.

Dr. Height worked to overcome adversity, in her own life and for others. As a young woman, she was accepted to Barnard College, but was barred from attending that school because it had already met its "quota" of black students. Dr. Height went on to earn the first of several degrees at New York University. Eight decades later, she witnessed the inauguration of America's first African-American president.

The Communications Workers of America was proud to call Dr. Height a friend and ally, and we were honored to have her speak to CWA activists at our 2008 National Equity Conference. She inspired all of us with her recollections of the early days of the civil rights movement and with her assessment of the work still to be done to achieve economic and social justice for all. In her memory, we will continue to work to advance the cause of freedom and equality for all.