Unsung Heroine

April 21, 2010 10:32 AM

Dorothy Height, civil rights pioneer, died yesterday at the age of 98. Height was a pioneer for both African Americans and women. Her list of achievements is impressive and daunting. More recently, she spoke in favor of same sex parenting. Here is a slideshow of images of her groundbreaking life.
posted by bearwife (24 comments total)

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posted by cashman at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2010

Previously on Metafilter.
posted by bearwife at 10:38 AM on April 21, 2010

Every time I read and reread that list of achievements, I find Dorothy Height more and more awe-inspiring. In a just universe, her birthday would be a national holiday, and the Poet Laureat would write song cycles about her.



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posted by bakerina at 10:55 AM on April 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

Dorothy Height said:

"I want to be remembered as someone who used herself and anything she could touch to work for justice and freedom.... I want to be remembered as one who tried."

Fear not, my dear. You will be remembered. You tried, succeeded and humanity is forever in your debt, Dorothy.

Please rest in peace with the knowledge that the world is a better place because you were here.

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posted by stringbean at 11:07 AM on April 21, 2010

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posted by brundlefly at 11:24 AM on April 21, 2010

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posted by xorry at 11:26 AM on April 21, 2010

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posted by amyms at 11:54 AM on April 21, 2010

I bet if she lived until she was 100 she would have been in favor of inter-species marriage too...damn hippy.

/slippery slope
posted by toekneebullard at 12:03 PM on April 21, 2010

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posted by yeloson at 12:05 PM on April 21, 2010

Only the good die young.
posted by mreleganza at 12:07 PM on April 21, 2010

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posted by Faint of Butt at 12:11 PM on April 21, 2010

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posted by anansi at 12:31 PM on April 21, 2010

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posted by any major dude at 12:39 PM on April 21, 2010

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posted by one teak forest at 1:37 PM on April 21, 2010

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posted by rabbitrabbit at 1:56 PM on April 21, 2010

Thanks bearwife for this lovely ffp. What an impressive and inspriational life she led.

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posted by dog food sugar at 2:27 PM on April 21, 2010

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posted by joe lisboa at 2:42 PM on April 21, 2010

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posted by joannemerriam at 2:48 PM on April 21, 2010

Dorothy Height also served on the National Council for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. In response to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study (brief overview, wiki, CDC timeline, NPR), the Council published The Belmont Report, which set landmark ethical standards for biomedical research.
posted by skenfrith at 6:38 PM on April 21, 2010

What an amazing person. It's a shame to lose her - I don't think there's a qualified back-fill out there anywhere.
posted by PuppyCat at 7:48 PM on April 21, 2010

My dad, who's a wonderful guy but sometimes backward-thinking on some racial issues, knew her a little from way back. He had admired her for years, and got her to speak to a civic group he was part of in the 1980s. Few others in the group had heard of her, so he was able to get a seat at her table and said it was one of the high points of his life ("like having dinner with Eleanor Roosevelt"). Upon hearing she had died he spoke of her with tears in his eyes, about her poise and elegance and forceful vision.

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posted by LobsterMitten at 7:44 PM on April 23, 2010

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posted by sigmagalator at 5:35 PM on April 27, 2010

Description of her funeral at the National Cathedral, with Obama giving the eulogy; flags are at half staff today in her honor.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:02 AM on April 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Text of Obama's eulogy for Height
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:03 AM on April 29, 2010 [1 favorite]