Cohen Pays Last Respects to Civil Rights Leader Dr. Dorothy Height

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) paid his last respects to legendary Civil Rights leader Dr. Dorothy I. Height at her funeral at the National Cathedral. Last week, the Congressman honored Dr. Height’s life and accomplishments on the House floor.

“Dr. Dorothy Height’s story is America’s story,” said Congressman Cohen. “The Godmother of Civil Rights was a hero, a leader and an inspiration to us all. She dedicated her life to ending racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice and freedom. Dr. Height was one of the towering leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and a staunch defender of the poor and disenfranchised. She understood the power of personal conviction and, throughout her life, never waivered in her determination to improve our society so that all could partake in the American dream. It is important that we honor her work and study her example. We thank God for bringing Dr. Height into our lives. May she rest in peace.”

Dr. Height earned bachelors and masters degrees at New York University and did postgraduate work at Columbia University and the New York School of Social Work. She was a caseworker with the New York City Welfare Department before joining the National Council of Negro Women, which she ran for 40 years. She was also a member of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America, the Young Women’s Christian Association and served as National President for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for many years.

In 1960, Dr. Height was the only female member of the Civil Rights Movement “Big Six” Leadership Team -- which included Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney H. Young, A. Phillip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins, and John Lewis – to help organize the 1963 March on Washington. She provided counsel to every American president from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama.

Dr. Height was the recipient of countless honors and awards, including the 1995 Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, the 1993 NAACP Spingarn Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1989 from President Ronald Reagan, the Presidential Medal of Honor in 1994 from President Bill Clinton, and the Congressional Medal of Honor from President George W. Bush in 2004. President Barack Obama today ordered flags across the country to be flown at half staff as a mark of respect for Dr. Height.