Bill Text: PA HR783 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Expressing condolences on the passing of Dorothy Irene Height, the godmother of the civil rights movement.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 28-8)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-04 - Referred to RULES [HR783 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR783-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 3713
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 783 Session of2010
INTRODUCED BY JOHNSON, CALTAGIRONE, DALEY, BEYER, BRIGGS, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GODSHALL, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, JOSEPHS, W. KELLER, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, MARKOSEK, MATZIE, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MURPHY, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PAYTON, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, SANTONI, SEIP, SIPTROTH, THOMAS, WAGNER, WATSON AND CONKLIN, MAY 4, 2010
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MAY 4, 2010
A RESOLUTION
Expressing condolences on the passing of Dorothy Irene Height,
the godmother of the civil rights movement.
WHEREAS, Dorothy Height was born on March 24, 1912, in
Richmond, Virginia, the daughter of a nurse and a building
contractor; and
WHEREAS, As a young child Dorothy Height moved with her
parents to Rankin, Pennsylvania, where she was educated in the
public school system; and
WHEREAS, In high school Dorothy Height won a $1,000
scholarship in a national oratorical contest on the Constitution
of the United States and was awarded admission to Barnard
College; and
WHEREAS, After Barnard College refused her admittance because
of having already met its African-American quota, Dorothy Height
attended New York University; and
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WHEREAS, Dorothy Height's career as a civil rights advocate
began in earnest in 1933 when she became a leader of the United
Christian Youth Movement of North America; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Height worked to prevent lynching,
desegregate the armed forces, reform the criminal justice system
and open public accommodations; and
WHEREAS, In 1937 Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the National
Council of Negro Women (NCNW), asked Dorothy Height to join the
organization and fight for women's rights concerning equal
employment, pay and education; and
WHEREAS, In 1938 Dorothy Height was one of ten young
Americans whom Eleanor Roosevelt invited to plan the World Youth
Congress at Vassar College; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Height was heavily involved with the YWCA,
eventually becoming a member of the YWCA National Board; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Height served as National President of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority from 1947 to 1957; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Height was NCNW's fourth national president
from 1957 through 1998, leading the organization through the
1960s by organizing voter registration in the South and voter
education and awareness in the North, instituting scholarship
programs for civil rights workers and confronting barriers
related to sexism; and
WHEREAS, Through her work with NCNW, Dorothy Height helped to
establish Federal housing and home ownership programs for low-
income families; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Height was the only woman on the speaker's
platform when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have a
Dream" speech in 1963; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Height established the Women's Center for
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Education and Career Advancement in 1970 to help women prepare
for entry into the work force and passionately supported equal
workplace opportunities for women until her death; and
WHEREAS, In 1975 Dorothy Height participated in the
International Women's Year Conference of the United Nations; and
WHEREAS, A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and
the Congressional Gold Medal, Dorothy Height continued her
tireless crusade on behalf of civil rights through several
presidential administrations and until her death; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Height was awarded honorary doctorate
degrees from 36 universities and colleges, including Harvard
University, Howard University, New York University and Columbia
University; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Height's death represents a profound loss to the
international community and all persons who struggle for equal
civil rights; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper that the House of
Representatives recognize the work of Dr. Height, who died on
April 20, 2010, at 98 years of age; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express
condolences on the passing of Dorothy Irene Height, the
godmother of the civil rights movement.
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