Norton Enters Congressional Record Noting Dr. Dorothy Height's 98th Birthday (March 24, 2010)
STATEMENT OF CONGRESSWOMAN ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON HONORING DR. DOROTHY L. HEIGHT ON HER 98TH BIRTHDAY
March 24, 2010
Ms. Norton. Madam Speaker,
I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Dr. Dorothy L. Height, the President Emerita of the National Council of Negro Women, on her 98th birthday.
Dr. Dorothy L. Height has spent her extremely productive lifetime in service of African Americans, especially African-American women, and the people of the United States of America. She has been a visionary, championing every great effort for equality and racial justice that our nation has achieved, from equal pay and voting rights for women to the integration of the nation's governmental institutions and revision of societal norms.
Known as the "Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement," Dr. Height has also organized the annual Black Family Reunion, a national celebration that she leads to celebrate African-American family values on the National Mall and throughout the nation.
Dr. Height has been recognized with virtually every significant national honor, from the NAACP Spingarn Medal, to the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award and the Congressional Gold Medal.
It is especially appropriate that Dr. Height's birthday occurs in March, during Women's History Month. Her contributions, not only to our country, but to women of every color and background, make Women's History Month a timely occasion to celebrate Dr. Height's life's work as President Emerita of the National Council of Negro Women. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the lifetime contributions of Dr. Dorothy L. Height on her 98th birthday.