The Postal Service will release a stamp Feb. 1 to honor Dorothy Height, who dedicated her life to fighting for racial and gender equality.
Although Height (1912-2010) rarely gained the recognition granted her male contemporaries, she became one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the 20th century.
She led the National Council of Negro Women for several decades, fighting to end poverty and provide decent housing for low-income families.
During the 1940s and 1950s, Height served as national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and later spearheaded the Young Women’s Christian Association’s social justice initiatives.
Height received two of the nation’s highest civilian honors: President Bill Clinton honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994, while President George W. Bush presented her with the Congressional Gold Medal 10 years later.
The Dorothy Height stamp, which will be the 40th entry in the Black Heritage series, features artist Thomas Blackshear II’s painting of Height, which is based on a photograph by Lateef Mangum.
Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman will lead the dedication of the stamp at a ceremony at Howard University in Washington, DC.