More than 200 people gathered Sunday afternoon to honor civil rights leader Dr. Dorothy Height. On what would have been her 107th birthday, the ceremony recalled the many achievements of the late Dr. Height. She worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., provided counsel to presidents such as Lyndon B. Johnson and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994.
Jeffrey Randolph, Dr. Height’s nephew, spoke about his aunt’s legacy.
“I wish they knew more about what she was about,” said Jeffrey Randolph. “You know, a lot of people don’t know what she did. A lot of people don’t know her. You know, to know that well, the only reason I’m able to do certain things is because of people like her.”
Dr. Height was born in Richmond in 1912 and died in 2010 in Washington, DC. On Sunday, a historical marker was unveiled at the Hull Street Branch Library to commemorate her achievements and legacy.
Keynote speaker Dr. Colita Nichols Fairfax emphasized the importance of recognizing Height as a women's rights activist.
“She really knew that black women’s issues are to speak to community issues,” said Nichols Fairfax.
The marker is located in the Blackwell neighborhood where Dr. Height was born. State officials Governor Ralph Northam, Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney were in attendance and spoke. A plaque sponsored by Doctor Height’s sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, was also showcased.
Reported by WCVE Intern Brianna Scott. Audio recording of Preston A. Page, Coordinator of Highway Marker Committee for Dorothy Height