Slaughter Mourns the Passing of Civil Rights Icon Dr. Dorothy Height

April 2010

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28) mourned the passing of civil rights icon Dr. Dorothy Height calling her a woman not content with being ahead of her time.

“Today America has lost a hero,” said Slaughter. “We all know that she stood by Dr. King when he declared his dream on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, but Dr. Height had didn’t just have front row seats to history, she made history. I had the honor of knowing her and can tell you that she belongs on the list of leaders of the civil rights movement. Dr. Height began marching as a teenager and over the course of her life, she lead with wisdom and tenacity. Her passing along with the loss of Benjamin L. Hooks, the former longtime head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is a reminder of the shoulders we have to stand on today as we continue to work for fairness for all people regardless of their color, creed or gender.”

Dr. Height was born in Richmond, Va. and was raised in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. After obtaining a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from New York University, Dr. Height worked for and eventually lead the National Council of Negro Women and the YWCA. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 from President Bill Clinton and in 2004 was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, two of the highest civilian honors in the country. She continued to speak out into her 90s drawing rousing ovations.