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Civil RIghts Pioneer Dr.
Dorothy Height Given St. Louis, November 10, 2004 - Civil Rights Pioneer Dr. Dorothy I. Height was awarded the National Council of Churches USA’s first J. Irwin Miller Award in recognition of her tireless commitment and dedication to justice, peace and unity for more than 60 years, at an awards banquet during the NCC/Church World Service General Assembly here today.
“We are reminded today of the aspiring example set by J. Irwin Miller,” said NCC President Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. as he introduced the Award. “The award we give today in his name is a tangible reminder to us of the part he played in the life of the National Council of Churches and of the challenge to build on his gifts of faith, courage and a pioneering spirit,” he said. Miller-who was a prominent industrialist, philanthropist, patron of the
arts, and a lay member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)-served
as the first lay president of the NCC from 1960-63, just as the civil rights
movement was gaining momentum. He has been highly regarded for his courage,
having supported the formation of a union at his company, Cummins Engine
Company, in the 1930s. In addition, he shut down the Cummins factory in
South Africa in the 1970s because the apartheid government at the time would
not allow the company to run a racially integrated
Hugh Miller, J. Irwin’s son, spoke of his father at the luncheon. “One of the things I admired most about my father is when he had to make choices that cost him dearly. His decision to support a union cost him friendships that he never regained…but he did it anyway,” he said. Dr. Height, who is regarded by many as the “mother” of the Civil Rights Movement, was chosen as the first recipient of the award because of her work to improve the quality of life for others, particularly African Americans, women and children. She is noted worldwide for her leadership in fighting for civil and human rights both on a national and an international level. Perhaps best known for her leadership as president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) from 1957 to 1998, Dr. Height’s efforts to strengthen the Black family have afforded her numerous awards, commendations and recognition from government, business and non-profit groups. In 1989 she received the Citizen’s Medal Award from President Ronald Reagan and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom Medal. In 1994, President Clinton awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor and this year, on her 92nd birthday, President Bush presented her with the Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Height was the only woman to work at a high level in the Civil Rights Movement and was first recognized by civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., A. Philip Randolph, Whitney Young, Roy Wilkins, James Farmer and John Lewis, from her work on the national staff of the YWCA and as president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.-an historically Black sorority that moved to a deeper level of social involvement under her leadership and is now one of the largest women’s organizations in the world. Among many achievements, Dr. Height is credited with organizing “Wednesdays in Mississippi” in 1964, which brought white and Black women from the North and South together for informal dialogues. Dr. Height, who lives in Washington, D.C., was unable to make the trip to St. Louis but her great nephew, Paul Randolph, and nephew Dr. Bernard Randolph, Sr., both of whom live here in St. Louis, accepted the award on her behalf. In describing the woman he called the matriarch of their family, Paul Randolph said of his great aunt, “She has been a role model for all of us. She is always willing to give so much of herself without expecting anything back.” According to Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, NCC’s Associate General Secretary for Justice and Advocacy who is a lifetime member of NCNW and once worked on the staff of that organization, Dr. Height has often told her that she must take the “t” word out of her vocabulary. “You cannot use the word ‘tired’ and be in the work for peace and justice and civil rights in this country,” said Rev. Girton-Mitchell recounting Dr. Height’s words to her. “She always says that anybody can make noise. Anybody can complain. But God calls on some of us to step up and make noise and make a difference,” said Rev. Girton-Mitchell. “Do more than complain. We must put our hands to the plough like Dr. Height and stay with it until we make a difference,” she challenged the assembly. Dr. Height’s memoir, Open Wide the Freedom Gates, which details her life’s work and achievements was recently released and is now available in bookstores. -end- Photo by Kathleen Cameron. Top: Hugh Miller; General Assembly President Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.; Paul Randolph. Bottom: Miller; Hoyt; Dr. Bernard Randolph, Jr.; Paul Randolph; NCC Associate General Secretary for Justice and Advocacy Brenda Girton-Mitchell. Media
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The J. Irwin Miller Award is named for a founder and former president of
the NCC who exemplified a commitment to justice, peace and unity. The award,
which was instituted following the death of Miller three months ago at age
95, is the Council’s way of preserving his moral and spiritual legacy.
operation; and, a few
years ago, in retirement, he supported Cummins management in their decision
to extend benefits to domestic partners of employees.