Born: March 24, 1912, Richmond, VA

Education: NYU, B.A., 1932, M.A., 1933

Died: April 20, 2010, Washington, DC

A “‘godmother’ of the American Civil Rights Movement,” Height was president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) from 1957 to 88. With headquarters in Washington, DC and more than four million members, it is one of the largest black organizations. She spearheaded efforts to foster civil and human rights; equality for women; and interracial, ethnic, and international cooperation.

Her leadership mirrored the twentieth century African American freedom struggle. Growing up and pursuing education during Jim Crow, she instilled strong values of racial pride and self-help, inspiring her activism for social justice. Height fought against race, class, and gender discrimination as a New York City caseworker, YWCA officer, and sorority leader. She not only marched in Times Square to protest southern lynching and disfranchisement, but also organized rallies on behalf of the women's and peace movements. Moreover, she had a voice in civil rights strategy, including Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders’ tense sessions before the March on Washington (1963), urging them to bridge differences and create a united front. Height managed the formation of the Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial Museum and National Archives for Black Women's History (1970s) and initiated projects to fight illiteracy, poverty, and AIDS. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994) and Congressional Gold Medal (2004).