My mother, Polly Spiegel Cowan, civil rights activist, died in 1976. As I watched the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama I held in my heart the image of my mother and her dear friend and colleague Dr. Dorothy Height.
Cheers to you, Mom, watching from wherever you are now. And cheers to you, Dr. Height. I’m glad you got a great seat at the inauguration. You more than deserve it.
From the NY Times, Sept 17, 2009
One of mr. Obama’s guests, Dorothy Height, 96, will have a place ofhonor on the platform — in her wheelchair. Ms. Height, a longtimesocial activist, was accepted at Barnard College in 1929 but was turned away when she arrived because the school had met its quota of two black women.
“I never thought I would live to see this,” she said of theinauguration of a black president. “This is real recognition that civilrights was not just what Dr. King dreamed. but it took a lot of peoplea lot of work to make this happen, and they feel part of it.”
From NewsChanne8 in Washington, DC, January 19, 2009
At 96 years old, Height has seen many firsts, but when Barack Obamais sworn-in as the nation’s first African-American president, it willbe an experience for her unlike any other. “I’ll be glad I lived longenough to see it and I think it’s the answer to so many prayers-something that people have worked on for a long time.”
Born in Richmond, Height first started working in new York City. By thelate 1930′s, she had established herself as a civil rights activist andjoined the National Council of Negro Women.
American leaders regularly met with her. Height encouraged PresidentEisenhower to desegregate schools and President Lyndon Johnson toappoint African-American women to positions in government. “She hasbeen the glue that has held our civil rights and human rights movementtogether for the last 40 years and one of the things I’m so happy aboutis that she lived to see the day,” said Rev. Walter Fauntroy, civilrights activist.
In 1957, Height was named president of the National Council of NegroWomen. it was a position she held throughout the height of the civilrights movement of the 1960′s. it was a time when the idea of anAfrican-American becoming president seemed impossible. “You know, I hadthoughts that often were disturbing, but you can’t work at something ifyou don’t believe in it. And I believed that someday this wouldhappen,” said Height.
Now that it is happening, the National Council of Negro Women isgearing up for a huge celebration on Inauguration Day. Height will beat the swearing in and then as the parade comes down PennsylvaniaAvenue, there will be a celebration at their headquarters along theroute.
“We are the only African-Americans who own a building within thisquarter of Pennsylvania Avenue and for the first time we’ll be usheringin an African-American president,” said Christine Toney, NationalCouncil of Negro Women
But while the crowds along Pennsylvania Avenue celebrate a newpresident, Height will also use the day to reflect. It’s been a longroad to get here and she knows there is still work to be done. “I thinkthat many opportunities have opened up. the country’s come along wayand I would say to young people to keep up the spirit that we have nowand keep your eyes open and your heart open and see how you can take usto the next step,” said Height.
So at 96 years old, Height marks another first on Tuesday – one that’sstirring up feelings like none other. “It’s not just a feeling of joy.It’s a feeling of achievement and a feeling of greater confidence in asociety in which we live. I think the possibilities of America areunlimited.”
Links to Wednesdays in Mississippi, the Civil Rights organization founded by my mother and Dr. Dorothy I. Height.
www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/WIMS/
lauraflanders.firedoglake.com/2008/11/07/got-docs-wednesdays-in-mississippi/
DR. DOROTHY I HEIGHT, POLLY COWAN, AND THE INAUGURATION – See Saw