Dr. Dorothy Height

by Fatima Goss Graves, Vice President for Education and Employment,
National Women's Law Center

This week Dr. Dorothy Height passed away at the age of 98. She began her lifelong work for equality in the 1930s, led the National Council of Negro Women for four decades and co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus. And that’s not even the whole story – in fact, it is nearly impossible (particularly in a short blog post) to summarize the many great achievements of a woman who has been called the “Godmother” of the Civil Rights Movement. Her contribution to the women’s rights and civil rights movements are truly immeasurable.

So instead, I’ll just quote Dr. Height. She often said, “If the times aren’t ripe, you have to ripen the times.” And that she did. Decade after decade, Dr. Height set the stage for critical advancements in civil rights and women’s rights. She was there to gain key protections in voting, education, employment and housing. And she was there to restore them as they were eroded by narrow court decisions. We are all indebted to Dr. Height, her lifelong dedication to ensuring equality, and the trail that she blazed for so many years. And at the National Women’s Law Center, we are all better advocates because of her. Dr. Height, we will do our best to continue to “ripen the times.”