TeenSpeak

By Neda Jafar

What must it have been like to be born black in the year 1912 knowing that because of the color of your skin you were a sub-citizen, not entitled to the same things as whites? Would you be intimidated by segregation? Frightened by organizations like the Klu Klux Klan that could threaten you or commit lynching without impunity? What kind of work would you be allowed to do? What kind of education would you be allowed to get? What kinds of services would you be permitted to have? Would you accept what society dished out to you or would you be able to bravely step out and try to make a difference?

At 91 years old, Dr. Dorothy Height continues to be a leader in the struggle against racism and sexism. A trailblazer for civil rights and rights for black women, Height has seen it all, experienced a lot and has had to overcome all sorts of obstacles. “When I faced discrimination,” she said, “I did not get bitter. I found out that I couldn’t generalize from one bad experience about all people.”

Height, who was born in Virginia and raised in an integrated community in Rankin, Pa., admits that the very influential role that she has played in her life in advancing opportunities for the black community largely grew out of her experiences of being part of a group. “All of my youth I participated in movements,” said Height who at 12 joined the YWCA Girl Reserves, joined the NAACP’s Anti-Lynch Movement, and at 16 was an active member in the United Christian Youth Movement of North America. “At that time I was very conscious that there were a lack of opportunities for young people,” she said. “Joining hands with other young people in a Harlem youth group when they started the American Youth Movement helped me to think about who I was as a person and what it was I wanted to see happen and what goals I had for my life. I have been building on [that experience] ever since.”

Even today, Height is still building. Her recently published memoir, Open Wide the Freedom Gates tells her story of what it was like to be an African American growing up in a society that institionalized prejudice and bigotry. Height admits that things are better today than they were when she was growing up but, “There’s still so much yet to do,” she said. “Race is still institutionalizing prejudice, institutionalizing bigotry. It’s built into the system, embedded so that one doesn’t have to be racist or sexist because the way things operate in the system itself has it built in and I think this is what young people have to grapple with.”

Perhaps not as obvious as it was in the Deep South, Height experienced racial segregation. “People had to go different paths and pick out a different mountain, sit on different sides,” she said. Today racism remains a problem because of economic and educational disparities. “We have opportunities set up by laws,” said Height, “and many young people who went to jail singing, ‘We shall overcome,’ have helped us to pass those laws. But these same people have found that they can check into the same hotels, but neither they nor their families are in the economic position to pay the check.”

Height argues that the disparity in education and job opportunities is still too great. Especially since our society is increasingly based in science and technology, all young people need to have the same opportunities to learn the skills that will enable them to get good jobs. “We have to keep working to improve the schools so that these disadvantaged young people are prepared to deal with the needs of the workplace today,” she said.

Height has seen the power of the people make great changes in our society. In 1937 Mary McLeod Bethune, who was to become her mentor saw in Height someone who could move mountains. “Come - we need you,” she said and assigned Height to the Resolutions Committee working on issues that affected children and youth child labor laws. As head of the National Council of Negro Women for 41 years, Height has witnessed just how powerful a network of people can be in overcoming injustices. “The National Council of Negro Women is a shining example of the way women have harnessed our women power and have set out to work with some unity,” she said. “Not uniformity, but working in unity and in coalition and doing all the things we can to see that we deal with the problems of both racism and sexism in our society.”

Height has confronted racism her whole life. Once, threatened by the Klu Klux Klan at a YWCA interracial camp that was being held in North Carolina, Height said what kept them stalwart was being a group that was dedicated to an important mission. “It’s the kind of experience that you can only come through when there are other people, like my co-workers who were there and all of us were encouraged together,” said Height. “That kind of thing is frightening but it’s also a challenge because at that time there were people who lived that experience and faced those realities every day.”

Yes, there is still much work to be done and even at 91, Height has demonstrated that not only is she not running out of steam but also that anything is possible. Her commitment and convictions have made her a respected advisor on issues of race to Presidents from Eisenhower to Clinton. “We will never have a work field where all of the people have an equal chance if some people have been shut out or denied,” she said. “Like an automobile, the faster you go, all the wheels go, but the back wheels never catch up. It’s the same thing here. Even though we say we have improved things, we need to make some provisions for those who have been denied opportunities to catch up or they will never be able to catch up.”