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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 51
BY SENATOR PETERSON
CONDOLENCES. Express condolences upon the death of civil rights matriarch, Dorothy
Irene Height.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death2
of civil rights matriarch, Dorothy Irene Height.3
WHEREAS, Dorothy I. Height was born on March 24, 1912, in Richmond, Virginia;4
and5
WHEREAS, after moving to Pennsylvania, Ms. Height was admitted to Barnard6
College in 1929, but upon arrival, she was denied entrance because the school had a written7
policy of admitting only two black students; and8
WHEREAS, she pursued studies instead at New York University, earning a degree9
in 1932, and a master's degree in educational psychology in 1933; and10
WHEREAS, Ms. Height began work as a caseworker with the New York City11
Welfare Department and, at the age of twenty-five, began a career as a civil rights activist12
when she joined the National Council of Negro Women; and13
WHEREAS, while fighting for equal rights for both African Americans and women,14
in 1944 she joined the national staff of the YWCA, presided over the integration of its15
facilities nationwide, while also serving as National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority16
Incorporated from 1946-1957; and17
WHEREAS, she remained active with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority throughout her18 SCR NO. 51
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life while developing leadership training programs and interracial and ecumenical education1
programs; and2
WHEREAS, in 1957, she was named president of the National Council of Negro3
Women, a position she held until 1997; and4
WHEREAS, during the height of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, she5
organized "Wednesdays in Mississippi" that brought together black and white women from6
the North and South in order to create a dialogue of understanding; and7
WHEREAS, with Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm, Betty Freidan and others, she8
helped found the National Women's Political Caucus; and9
WHEREAS, in news coverage of the civil rights movement, much was made of the10
so-called "Big Six" who led it: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer, John Lewis, Asa11
Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young, Ms. Height was the only woman to12
work regularly alongside them on projects of national significance and was considered the13
unheralded seventh; and14
WHEREAS, American leaders regularly took her counsel, including First Lady15
Eleanor Roosevelt; and16
WHEREAS, Ms. Height encouraged President Dwight D. Eisenhower to desegregate17
schools and President Lyndon B. Johnson to appoint African American women to positions18
in government; and19
WHEREAS, beginning March 20, 1965, she wrote a column entitled "A Woman's20
Word" for the weekly African American newspaper, the New York Amsterdam News; and21
WHEREAS, she served on several committees including the President's Committee22
on the Employment of the Handicapped, the President's Committee on the Status of Women,23
and also served as a consultant on African affairs to the Secretary of State; and24
WHEREAS, she was named to the National Council for the Protection of Human25
Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, that published The Belmont Report, a26
response to the infamous "Tuskegee Syphilis Study" and an international ethical touchstone27
for researchers to this day; and28
WHEREAS, in 2004, Ms. Height was recognized by Barnard College for her29
achievements as an honorary alumna during its commemoration of the 50
th
Anniversary of30 SCR NO. 51
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the Brown v. Board of Education decision; and1
WHEREAS, the musical stage play If This Hat Could Talk, based on her memoirs2
Open Wide the Freedom Gates, debuted in 2005; and3
WHEREAS, Ms. Height was the chairperson of the Executive Committee of the4
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the largest civil rights organization; and5
WHEREAS, she was an honored guest and seated among the dignitaries at the6
January 20, 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama; and7
WHEREAS, other awards presented to Ms. Height included the Presidential Citizens8
Medal; the Springarn Medal from the NAACP; the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom9
From Want Award; induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame; the Presidential10
Medal of Freedom; the 7
th
Annual Heinz Award Chairman's Medal, the Congressional Gold11
Medal by President George W. Bush, the African Events Congressional Gold Medal Award,12
and she was listed on Molefi Kete Asante's list of 100 Greatest African Americans; and13
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2010, the death of Ms. Height, at the age of ninety-eight,14
was announced by the National Council of Negro Women, of which she was president15
emerita, and by Howard University Hospital in Washington, where she died; and16
WHEREAS, in a statement, President Obama called Ms. Height "the godmother of17
the civil rights movement" and a hero to so many Americans; and18
WHEREAS, because of her numerous accomplishments, Dorothy Height will forever19
be remembered by the people of Louisiana for her integrity, dignity, inspiration, and the joy20
she left in the hearts of all who support civil rights.21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby22
acknowledge with gratitude the generosity, bravery, courage, and outstanding service of23
Dorothy Irene Height, and extends sincere regrets and condolences to her sister, Anthanette24
Aldridge, her family, and friends on the occasion of her death.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to26
Anthanette Aldridge of New York City and the National Council of Negro Women.27 SCR NO. 51
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Broussard-Johnson.
DIGEST
Peterson SCR No.
Express condolences upon the death of civil rights matriarch, Dorothy Irene Height.