Soror Dorothy Height's Memoir Produced as Stageplay

[CrimsonTide4]

Soror Dorothy I. Height on Showtime™

Showtime™ is presenting, as part of its Black
Filmmaker Showcase, "We Are Not Vanishing", a
fact-based tale of Dr. Dorothy Height and how she
created the national event, The Black Family Reunion.

It will air on February 17th at 7:35pm (ET).

Soror Height was our 10th National President and will
celebrate her 90th birthday on March 24th.

[CrimsonTide4]

I was very impressed with the mini documentary presentation tht focused on Soror Height last night. I was previously unaware of her involvement with the Black Family reunion but now that I am no long unaware, I bet you I go every year from now on.

[CrimsonTide4]

**COMPLIMENTS OF ESSENCE MAGAZINE, March 2002**

This month celebrate Dorothy Height and the National Council of Negro Women. An apprentice to Mary McLeod Bethune, Height assumed leadership of NCNW in 1958. She is now board chairman and president emeritus of the organization that represents more than 4, 000, 000 AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN -- including you.

March 24 is HEIGHT'S 90TH BIRTHDAY!! Hundreds of her supporters will join her on MARCH 20 for UNCOMMON HEIGHT, a birthday gala and fundraiser. Proceeds will help "BURN" the mortgage on NCNW's headquarters building at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, the only one representing AFRICAN AMERICANS on Washington, D.C.'s "policy row." Height had the vision to acquire the building, now valued at $30 million, in 1996. The NCNW must raise $5.1 million to own it outright.

Join the celebration by sending a birthday gift of $90 (a dollar for each year of HEIGHT'S life) or more.

Send donations to:
NCNW, BURN THE MORTGAGE,
633 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20034

-- Julianne Malveaux

[STARlight]

Hi Everyone!

I haven't been peeking in, lately, but I just wanted to add a comment regarding this wonderful precedent setter and history-maker.

I am the contest coordinator for Hal Jackson Talented Teen International of Hudson County and our theme this year revolves around outstanding women of achievement.

Dorothy Height will be spotlighted before the speech segment of our competition alongside other women including Mae Jemison, Nikki Giovanni, Mary Macleod-Bethune, Maya Angelou, and Oprah Winfrey to name a few. Interestingly enough, the staff allowed the contestants to come up with the names of the women to be spotlighted. We were so relieved, having been prepared to dispute the likes of Li' Kim and Rah Digga.

Just wanted to share....

Yolanda

[lil_sunshine]

CT4, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate that you put up this information. I'm a member of the NCNW and I will definitely support the cause and send in my $90 to honor Ms. Height's birthday. I think it's time the NCNW had total ownershp of their headquarters.

[CrimsonTide4]

HAPPY 90th Birthday to Soror Dorothy Irene Height



"For nearly half a century, Dorothy Irene Height has given leadership to the struggle for equality and human rights for all people. Her life exemplifies her passionate commitment for a just society and her vision of a better world." - National Council of Negro Women

Education:
1929 - Graduated Rankin High School, Rank PA (Valedictorian)
1932 - BA New York University, New York City
1933 - Master in Educational Psychology - New York University
New York School of Social Work - Columbia University (Advance studies)


Honorary Degrees:
1967- Doctor of Humane Letters, Tuskegee Institute
1970- Doctor of Humane Letters, Coppin State College
1970- Doctor of Humane Letters, Harvard University
1970- Doctor of Civil Law, Pace University
1974- Board of Humane Letters, University of Massachusetts
1975- Doctor of Humane Letters, Howard University
1975- Doctor of Humane Letters, Smith University
1975- Doctor of Humane Letters, New York University
1977- Doctor of Humane Letters, Bethune Cookman College
1980- Distinguished Service Medal, Barnard College
1981- Doctor of Humane Letters, Spelman College
1982- Doctor of Humane Letters, Emmanuel College
1982 Doctor of Humane Letters, Berea College
1983-Doctor of Humane Letters, Bowie State College
1985- Doctor of Humane Letters, Smith College
1989- Doctor of Humane Letters, College of the City of New York
1989- Doctor of Humane Letters, Lincoln University
1990- Doctor of Laws, Princeton University
1992- Doctor of Humane Letters, Central State University
1993- Doctor of Humane Letters, Tougaloo College
1994- Doctor of Humane Letters, Bennett College
1996- Doctor of Humane Letters, University of the District of Columbia

Degree information provided by the National Council of Negro Women

Height, president of the National Council of Negro Women for more than three decades, organized a successful drive to place a statue of Mary McLeod Bethune in a District of Columbia park. Once erected, the statue became the first of an African American in a public park in Washington, D.C.

[Deltaquarius]

I am also a member of NCNW who is in awe of Soror Height and her many accomplishments. Here's a link to an article that talks about her birthday celebration and the donations that NCNW received that retired the mortgage.

http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/...rticle_ID=9985

[DableST_1]

I didn't realize that this was already discussed.....My bad Sorors!!!!!I tried to delete it, but for some reason, I was denied


Icing on the Cake For Dorothy Height
Civil Rights Leader Gets Birthday Surprise

By Roxanne Roberts
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 21, 2002; Page C01

What do you give civil rights icon Dorothy Height for her 90th birthday? How
about paying off the $5 million mortgage on the National Council of Negro
Women headquarters on Pennsylvania Avenue?

Boxing promoter Don King made a semi-poetic plea to last night's birthday
party crowd at the J.W. Marriott Hotel:

"We're not talking about pie in the sky when she dies.

"Something sound on the ground when she is around.

"Help me make Dorothy smile, as the Dorothy in the 'Wizard of Oz.'

"Click your heels, Dorothy, and let's pay off the bill."

King announced he was donating $110,000, then turned to talk-show queen
Oprah Winfrey. "Help me, Oprah."

Winfrey, dripping in diamonds, sauntered onstage. "I love you, Brother King,
but I already came prepared to give two-point-five!" That's millions, should
you wonder.

The crowd, predictably, exploded. By the end of the "Uncommon Height" gala,
plenty of other corporate leaders had pledged $100,000 each. The
well-wishers included Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Maya Angelou, Rep. Maxine
Waters, Al Sharpton, Danny Glover, Dick Gregory, Coretta Scott King, Mayor
Anthony Williams and a thousand of Height's biggest fans.

"Dorothy is a living legend," said King. "I love the woman, and love what
she represents. She's a teacher. She's a healer. She's a redeemer."

"You have meant so much to the country," the former first lady told the
audience. "You have been the source of support to every one of my
predecessors, as you have been to me. I talked to Eleanor Roosevelt before I
came over -- Dorothy actually knew Eleanor -- so Eleanor wanted me to tell
Dorothy: 'You're still doing good, girl.' "

We shouuld all be doing so well. "She looks good," whispered one guest of
Height, decked out in a violet dress with beads and gold accents. Due to a
bum hip and knee, she uses a wheelchair and stands only for special moments.

Height's birthday is really on Sunday. Last night's party was part of the
National Council of Negro Women's five-day celebration, which also included
a legislative symposium, an open house at the 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
headquarters, and a one-day leadership workshop for young women at Howard
University.

"Ms. Height is the epitome of what we are," said Sharpton. "In many ways,
her life celebrates our development as a people and as a community."

Height, with her trademark hats and her regal bearing, is indisputably the
grande dame of the civil rights movement. She is best known as the president
of the NCNW, which she headed from 1957 until 1998 and now serves as chair
and president emerita.

As the council's president, she worked with every civil rights leader of the
past half-century, building her reputation for graceful but unrelenting
demands for civil, women's and children's rights. Six years ago, the
organization established the Dorothy I. Height Leadership Institute to teach
political and social activism.

Although Height was supposed to step back from day-to-day operations, she
still -- by all reports -- runs the show. "I don't think she'll give it up
until they call her home," quipped one guest. Although finding a successor
is a major priority for the organization, Height says she is not concerned.
"We have so many women who are prepared," she said before the dinner. "I was
in the formative, building-up stage. Now they will carry on. There is no
question."

Danny Glover also wasn't worried: "There's certainly some energetic,
brilliant young woman capable of taking over and leading the council into
the 21st century."

Former labor secretary Alexis Herman agreed: "I see it in the faces of young
women at the council," she said. "It's young women who are on the move. I
feel very confident. I would not have said this 10 years ago, but I say it
now."

But last night was not really about the future. It was about Height's
journey to this night. The stage was adorned with the slogan "The Lady, the
Legacy, the Legend." At the pre-dinner reception, Glover knelt in front of
Height and kissed her hand.

Before dinner, Winfrey and Glover presented Angelou with the "Uncommon
Height" award. Height made her way to the stage and told the poet: "I have
the honor to have my name attached to an award that will be presented to
you. You are indeed a magnificent human being. I could talk all night about
your contributions. . . . If anyone has taught us what courage is, it's you.
And if anyone has defined 'uncommon' -- it is Maya Angelou.' "

Angelou took the mike and sang, "Look where we've all come from" -- an old
Negro spiritual. Then she began a story about her first encounter with
Height in 1959. After the young, awkward Angelou had been snubbed by "black
bourgies," Height welcomed her to a private lunch. "She took my heart from
that moment to this," Angelou said.

But the night's highlight had to be the celebrity-giving war between King
and Winfrey. Proceeds from the party were dedicated to "Burn the Mortgage"
at NCNW headquarters. The organization's goal was to raise the $5 million
debt remaining for the historic building by the end of this month.

"I was going to pay off half, but you started something," Winfrey told the
crowd. "Anybody else?"

Corporate sponsors flocked to throw in their contributions. The Freddie Mac
Foundation tossed in another million. Winfrey wandered through the audience
like a gospel preacher, plucking contributions left and right. It was
shakedown philanthropy at its best. By the time Winfrey got to the Fannie
Mae Foundation and Coca-Cola, the deed was all but done.

The $100,000 from Anheuser-Busch put the total for the night over $5
million.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" exulted Winfrey.

When Height finally got onto the stage near midnight, she effusively thanked
the crowd. "This is more than a gift. This has given me steam!"

Staff writer Hamil R. Harris contributed to this report.

[CrimsonTide4]

A bill has been introduced in the Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Dorothy I. Height.

The bill, H.R. 4531, currently has 47 co-sponsors: Baldwin, Brady, Biggert, Bishop, Brown, Carson, Christian-Christensen, Clay, Clayton, Clyburn, Conyers, Cummings, Davis. DeLauro, Fattah, Ford, Hastings, Hilliard, Hyde, Jackson, Jefferson, EB Johnson, Kilpatrick, Tubbs Jones, B. Lee, Jackson Lee, Jerry Lewis, Meek, Meeks, Millender-McDonald, McKinney, Morella, Holmes Norton, Owens, Payne, Pelosi, Rangel, Rohrbacher, Royce, Rush, Scott, Thompson, Towns, Waters, Watt, Watts, and Wynn.

A copy of the bill is available at http://thomas.loc.gov. Please be advised that the summary does not include the current list of co-sponsors. A list of initial co-sponsors was provided to National Headquarters by the office of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

[CrimsonTide4]

Subject: Breakfast with Dr. Dorothy Height at Southpoint Nordstroms


There are posters all over the store. Dr. Dorothy Height will be at Nordstroms in the Bistro Cafe ( 2nd level), Sunday, July 20, 2003 for her new book signing. Event starts at 9 a.m. Reservations required with $5 reservation fee. Go to customer service on the 2nd level to pay fee and sign up. Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. Proceeds benefit the National Council of Negro Women. Let's show our support and wear our sorority colors.

[CrimsonAngel2001]

Dorothy Height Congressional Gold Medal Bill Passes House

Washington, D.C.- Today the House of Representatives unanimously voted to approve legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Dorothy Height.

"I don't believe there is any recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal whose career has been as long or active as Dr. Height's," remarked Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-33rdCA), the sponsor of the legislation. "She is recognized as the preeminent social and civil rights activist of our time and is known as the grand dame of the America's civil rights movement. I am honored to be the sponsor of legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Height. It is now my hope that the Senate will act soon on companion legislation."


Dr. Height, who turned ninety earlier this year, is recognized as one of the preeminent social and civil rights activist of the 20th Century. As a young woman, Dr. Height joined forces with Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) . For the next five decades, Dr. Height worked tirelessly as a civil rights advocate. She was the only woman at the table when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others made plans for the civil rights movement. As an advisor to Presidents through their First Ladies, Dr. Height effected significant change in the lives of not only African American women, but all women and their loved ones. She counseled Eleanor Roosevelt and prodded President Eisenhower to desegregate the nation's schools. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Citizens Medal Award, presented by President Reagan, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, presented by President Clinton.

[stillwater15]

another outstanding, perhaps overdue acknowledgement of soror height's seemingly endless accomplishments.

[CrimsonTide4]

http://www.civilrights.org/issues/en...s.cfm?id=31820

Civil Rights Pioneer, Dr. Dorothy Height, Has Her Monumental Memoir, "Open Wide the Freedom Gates," Put to Music in a New Stageplay Set to Premiere Next Month
Kicking Off in the Nation's Capitol at the Historic Lincoln Theater June 14th, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC -Words from the incomparable work of noted and heralded poet Maya Angelou could not ring truer than when talking about the life and times of civil rights heroine and activist, Dr. Dorothy I. Height. Dr. Height's life has been defined by doing. Nothing has been out of her reach and the realm of her reach has been massive.

She's marched with Martin, sat in sessions with Stokely, rode with Rosa and had joint meetings with John, President John F. Kennedy that is. The civil rights movement would never be properly documented without the outstanding contributions of Dr. Dorothy I. Height.

Dr. Dorothy I. Height for more than 5 decades has been the President of The National Council of Negro Women, the largest Black women's organization in the country. She has been presented with the Citizens Medal Award for Distinguished Service to the Country by President Ronald Reagan, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton and the Congressional Gold Medal from our current President, George W. Bush. She conceived and organized the Black Family Reunion, which to date has attracted over 10 million people, during its ten year run.

As the only woman and last surviving member of The Civil Rights Six, Dr. Height has worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, A. Philip Randolph, and others. She participated in virtually all of the major Civil and Human Rights events of the 20th Century. She is also credited with organizing "Wednesdays in Mississippi" in 1964, which brought White and Black women from the North and South together to fight segregation. She is, without a doubt, the remaining "Strategist of The Movement." Her lifetime of achievement is marked with the liberation of Black America, the brilliant advancement of women's rights, and the most determined effort to lift up the poor and the powerless.

In an effort to recognize Dr. Height's unheralded role and her many important contributions to the Civil Rights and Women's Movement, "IF THIS HAT COULD TALK," was birth for the stage. This musical production is loosely based on Dr. Height's best selling memoir, "Open Wide The Freedom Gates." It was created to give audiences a glimpse of great events as seen through her eyes. It intimately reveals what really happened during one of our Country's most trying periods. "IF THIS HAT COULD TALK," was also established to serve as a model for young people. The desired goal rests in raising up a generation of young people who become aware of their past after viewing this production, that they become enriched and empowered to pursue a better future.

"Freedom's gates are open wide" in The Nation's Capital on beginning on Thursday, June 14 - Sunday, June 26, 2005 at the historic Lincoln Theater, 1215 U Street, NW. Performances are scheduled nightly at 8 PM, with Saturday performances at 3 PM and 8 PM and at 3 PM and 7:30 PM on Sundays.

The launching of this monumental masterpiece marks a unique opportunity, through the eyes of its creative team and producers, to not only highlight the contributions of Dr. Height, but also to galvanize community activism among young adults and endow the National Council of Negro Women, which is the largest woman based organization in the country. The production's title sponsor is Verizon. Other sponsors include Tyson, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Amtrak and Daimler-Chrysler.

"IF THIS HAT COULD TALK", a masterful memoir put to music through the eyes of the woman who made it possible--Dr. Dorothy I. Height. Throughout this production, Dr. Height takes us on a ride through the hallways of history, history that she helped affect, change and make happen.

"IF THIS HAT COULD TALK", is a tale told by the woman herself as she encounters some young women who have failed to realize the impact women through history have made and the sacrifices slain soldiers of the struggle have fought for. It chronicles and uncovers the connection that all women have--to withstand against all odds, regardless of race or their socio-economic background. Through history she helps these women discover who they are and who they ultimately have the capacity to be.

Combine the courageous conquests of some of the civil rights movement most admired ambassadors, the relentless revolution that gave way to the waves of change in this country and the fearless fervor of people who had the faith and fortitude to fix any problem and you have the makings for "IF THIS HAT COULD TALK."

Throughout the show Dr. Height enlists the experiences of some of her counterparts, among them Mary McLeod Bethune, A. Phillip Randolph, President John F. Kennedy, Rev. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hammer and Maya Angelou, to give their take on some of history's most triumphant and tumultuous times.

The show is written, directed and choreographed by Tony Award-Winner Dr. George Faison. Faison, a 35-year veteran of the industry is one of the World's premiere choreographers and directors. He is most noted for his Tony Award-winning choreography on the original Broadway production of the show, "The Wiz," and was nominated for an Emmy for his work with "The Josephine Baker Story," which he choreographed.

With everything from gospel music to the blues, an eclectic score brilliantly written by Joe Coleman, adding poetry and historical pieces, "IF THIS HAT COULD TALK," challenges its audiences to remember, while it compels its audience to want to affect needed change today on an individual and corporate level and confronts its audiences with events that rocked and revolutionized the world. Joe Coleman rose to fame as the lead singer of the world-renowned vocal group, The Platters. He is an accomplished singer, lyricist, composer and actor. He has performed with everyone from the incomparable Barbara Streisand to the iconic soul singer Smokey Robinson, just to name a few and has been featured on everything from "The Today Show" to "Live with Regis and Kelly."

If you had to find a word to sum up the significant scope of this production of "herstory" it would be "edutainment"--it simply focuses on entertaining its audience while subliminally informing and educating them. In addition to the story seen from the stage, there is also a Youth for Excellence component attached to this musical. This initiative gives young people an opportunity to view the production, meet with the cast immediately after the performance, brainstorm as a group and then develop ways to ignite the waves of social change in their own communities. This is strongly supported by an accompanying study guide.

The production will initially tour the East Coast, hitting The Nation's Capital at The Lincoln Theater for its Official Launch. During its entire run, which will commence in September of this year, the production will visit almost every major city, among them, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Houston and Atlanta.

[ladygreek]

Hope it comes to the Twin Cities!

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by ladygreek
Hope it comes to the Twin Cities!

AND the Queen City!