[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22751]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        IN HONOR OF DR. DOROTHY I. HEIGHT--A GREAT AMERICAN HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2003

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of 
America's great civil rights and human rights leaders--Dr. Dorothy I. 
Height.
  At ninety years of age, Dr. Height has had a long and distinguished 
career in the struggles for equality, social justice, and human rights 
for all peoples, and is today recognized as one of the most important 
social and civil rights activists of our time.
  Born on March 24, 1912, Dorothy Height earned her bachelors and 
masters degrees from the New York University.
  She began her work as a civil rights advocate in the 1930s, then went 
on to serve as President of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), 
an organization of 250 local groups and 38 national groups focused on 
social and economic development, women's issues and children's issues. 
Under her leadership the NCNW implemented numerous innovative 
initiatives including: Operation Woman Power to expand business 
ownership by women and to provide funds for vocational training; 
leadership training for African-American women in the rural South; the 
nationwide annual Black Family Reunion to encourage, renew, and 
celebrate African American and all families; the Women's Center for 
Education and Career Advancement to empower minority women in 
nontraditional careers; and the Bethune Museum and Archives devoted to 
the history of African-American women.
  Quite notably, Dr. Height was the only female member of the ``Big 
Six'' civil rights leaders, which included Whitney Young, A. Phillip 
Randolph, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer, and 
Roy Wilkins. Dr. Height was an important confidante and consultant to 
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt on human and civil rights issues. She 
encouraged President Eisenhower to desegregate America's schools, and 
urged President Johnson to appoint African American women to high-
ranking government positions.
  During her life she has also worked tirelessly to educate Americans 
and those around the world about the realities of AIDS and established 
NCNW offices in West Africa and South Africa.
  Dr. Height is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions 
including: the NAACP's Spingarn Award, the highest honor bestowed by 
the NAACP for civil rights contributions; (C) the John F. Kennedy 
Memorial Award, from the National Council of Jewish Women; the 
Ministerial Interfaith Association Award, for her contributions to 
interfaith, interracial, and ecumenical movements for over 30 years; 
the Lovejoy Award, the highest recognition by the Grand Lodge of the 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, for outstanding, 
contributions to human relations; the Ladies Home Journal Woman of the 
Year Award, in recognition for her work for human rights; the William 
L. Dawson Award, presented by the Congressional Black Caucus for 
decades of public service to people of color and women; the Citizens 
Medal Award for distinguished service, presented by President Reagan; 
the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom Medal, awarded by the Franklin 
and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute; and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 
awarded by President Clinton in 1994 for her lifelong leadership and 
dedication to civil and human rights issues.
  Dr. Dorothy I. Height--a great American hero. Today we thank and 
honor her, as our lives are all the better for her struggles and her 
lifelong commitment and leadership in creating opportunities for 
Americans, and for all peoples.

                          ____________________