[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 41 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          DR. DOROTHY I. HEIGHT--A SALUTE ON HER 92ND BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 29, 2004

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute one of the major 
leaders of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, Dr. Dorothy I. 
Height, as she celebrates her 92nd birthday. As an African-American 
teacher and social activist, Dr. Height has secured her place in 
American society as a true liberator of black America.
  Born on March 24, 1912, in Richmond, Virginia, she was educated in 
the public school system in Rankin, Pennsylvania. Dr. Height 
established herself at a very early age as a student with exceptional 
oratorical skills. Those skills earned her a scholarship to New York 
University where she received her bachelor's and master's in 4 years.
  Dr. Height began her career working as a caseworker with the New York 
City Welfare Department. At the age of 25 she became a volunteer with 
the National Council of Negro Women while working simultaneously with 
the National Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). Dr. Height 
developed leadership-training activities for volunteers and staff, and 
developed programs to promote interracial education.
  In 1957 Dr. Height was named President of the Council of Negro Women, 
a position she held until 1997. While serving as President she worked 
closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, 
and A. Philip Randolph. She encouraged President Dwight D. Eisenhower 
to desegregate schools and President Lyndon B. Johnson to appoint 
African American women to positions in government.
  As one of the major leaders of the Civil Rights Movement Dr. Height 
held many important positions such as being appointed as a consultant 
on African affairs to the secretary of state, and serving on the 
President's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped.
  Secretary of Health and Human Services Louis Sullivan recently 
appointed Dr. Height to the Advisory Council of the White House 
Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and by 
President Bush to the National Advisory Council on Aging.
  Dr. Height received a number of awards for her outstanding 
contributions, including: Woman of the Year from Ladies Home Journal 
(1974), induction into The National Women's Hall of Fame (1993), 
Springarn Medal from the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People (1993), William L. Dawson Award for ``decades of public 
service to people of color and particularly women'' from the 
Congressional Black Caucus, Presidential Medal of Freedom by President 
Clinton, and holds honorary degrees from more than 20 universities, 
including Harvard, Howard, Princeton, and Tuskegee Institute.
  At the height of nearly 70 years of service Dr. Height is the author 
of a new book: ``Open Wide The Freedom Gates: A Memoir.'' She continues 
to promote the importance of unity in black family life by organizing 
the Black Family Reunion Celebration, which continues to preserve the 
traditional values of the African-American family. Dr. Height is still 
active socially and professionally and serves as President Emeritus of 
the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW).

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