“We hold in our hands the power to shape, not only our own, but the nation’s future”
Dorothy I. Height
As we were going through some papers this week, we happened to find this saying by Dorothy Height and it made us ponder. Sometimes we do not realize how much power we have in the decisions we make, the friends we keep, and the actions we take.
Dorothy Height was a woman dedicated to social justice, an educator and activist who received the Congressional Medal of Honor from George W. Bush in 2004. Born in 1912, she received a scholarship for her oratory skills to Barnard College but was not admitted because they had reached their quota of two African American students before she arrived. If that makes you mad, then you are human, caring, and kind. Height pressed on, pursuing her education, and attended New York and Columbia Universities. Nothing stopped Dr. Height from moving on as a pioneer at the advent of the Civil Rights Movement from the barbaric quota system that tried to strike her down and hold her back. She pushed on to succeed and that she did! And, as a result, she received in her lifetime 36 Honorary Doctorate Degrees from prestigious universities and was distinguished as the Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement.
We are encouraged by messages from heroes like Dr. Height. By their examples, they tell us that when life feels hard, persist. They tell us to see life as an opportunity, not a defeat. They tell us to venture out when it feels safe to do so and find comfort in friendships and fellowship. As we move forward in this sometimes puzzling world, may we all take to heart Dr. Height’s message and persevere – together!
This blog is also dedicated to Harry Belafonte, a fierce and humane activist who married politics and pop culture which benefitted all of us.
