A Queen And Her Crowns: In Memory of Dorothy I. Height

On Tuesday, we lost a soldier in the fight for Civil Rights. Dorothy I. Height passed away after a short illness. She was 98 years old.

While not a household name, Ms. Height had an enormous impact on the Civil Rights Movement as she served as president of the National Council of Negro Women, worked to integrate the YWCA and served as one of the senior organizers of the March on Washington. In 1994, Ms. Height received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004 for her hard work.

Ms. Height was well known for her gorgeous collection of hats (or as we like to call them, crowns), as well as her lady like style of dress. I believe she used her fashion as a weapon against discrimination and racist stereotypes. Her crowns, dresses, pearls and crisp white gloves sent a clear message: "I, too, am a woman worthy of respect".

Thank you, Ms. Height. May you Rest in Peace.