Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 20 May 2010 — Page 3

The Muncie Times • May 20, 2010 • Page 3

Obama praises Dorothy Height as ’godmother of civil rights'

Dr Dorothy Height Obama eulogizes Height President Obama delivers the eulogy at the memorial service for civil rights icon Dorothy Height on Thursday at National Cathedral Special to The Muncie Times WASHINGTON, D.C.President Barack Obama called the late Dr. Dorothy Height, 98, the “godmother of civil rights“ as he eulogized her at her National Cathedral funeral. This was the third eulogy that the president has has delivered since he came into office. The others were for the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy' (D-Mass) and the victims of the West Virginia mining tragedy. . Before taking the pulpit to speak, Obama sat next to his wife, first lady Michelle, bobbing his head as gospel artist BeBe Winans sang "Stand." Obama smiled as he listened to friends tell stories about Height daring to play basketball for her school team, long before it was acceptable for women to do so. Poet Maya Angelou offered a reading and Camille Cosby, wife of comedian Bill Cosby, also paid tribute to Dr. Height, who led the veteran National Council of Negro Women for decades and marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent civil rights leaders and

bying President Kennedy to sign the Equal Pay Act in 1963. She was the matriarch of the civil rights movement, and will be greatly missed,” added NAACP Chairman Emeritus Julian Bond. Gallery DrDorothy I. Height's crusade for racial justice and gender equality spanned more than six decades. Ms. Height (above) was among the coalition of African American leaders who pushed civil rights to the center of the American political stage.

activists. Obama praised Height as the "godmother of civil rights," becoming a stalwart of the movement even at personal risk. He said she "deserves a place" in our history books and America's memory and noted that anyone who had lived long enough to have an 88-year old nephew had "lived a full life." Dr. Height died April 20. As he lauded the efforts of those civil rights leaders whose work and sacrifices paved the way for today’s African American successes, Obama poignantly said, “It's because of her ( Ms.Height) that Michelle and I are here." Meanwhile, the NAACP issued a news statement applauding Height for her civil rights contributions. “Dr. Dorothy I. Height was the beloved matriarch of the civil rights move-

ment,” said NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock. “The nation has lost a stalwart champion for civil rights and gender equality. With perseverance and strong determination Dr. Height broke through the proverbial glass ceiling as the only woman working side by side with the ‘Big Six’ to secure civil rights legislation in the 1950s and 60s. Today we have lost a strong voice and champion for women and children. Her lasting contributions will live on through the lives of those she touched and mentored. “I was introduced to the legacy of Dr. Dorothy Height through my 93-year-old grandmother, who considered Dr. Height one of her heroes. Our first meeting was at the 1993 March on Washington, where I was an organizer for the event. Dr. Height was a tireless and committed fighter for

civil rights. Despite being in poor health, she joined the NAACP late last year in our health care war room to advocate for health care reform. “The defining legacy of Dr. Height will be the countless individuals she inspired and mentored into positions of great leadership,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “She will be most remembered for what she did to encourage women to reach greater levels of achievement, but the truth is that she also guided and mentored the ambition to service and contributions of thousands of men. Her passion for a just society and her vision for a better world inspires us all.” “Dr. Height never saw a mountain she could not overcome, from being denied entry to Barnard College to achieving a master’s degree in psychology at NYU and lob-

As president of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, Height was arguably the most influential woman at the top levels of civil rights leadership. Although she never drew the media attention that conferred celebrity and instant recognition on some of the other civil rights leaders of her time, she was often described as the "glue" that held the family of black civil fights leaders together. She did much of her work out of the public spotlight, in quiet meetings and conversations, and she was widely connected at the top levels of power and influence in government and business. As a civil rights activist, Dr. Height participated in protests in Harlem during the 1930s. In the 1940s, she lobbied first lady Eleanor Roosevelt on Continued on page 4