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Classroom · Grades 6–12

Dorothy Height

Much of the civil rights movement’s work was done by organizations and organizers outside the spotlight, and Height showed how Black women built lasting institutions for change.

Lesson at a Glance

Grades
Grades 6–12
Time
One class period (20–40 minutes)
Standards
NCSS Themes 4 (Individual Development and Identity), 5 (Individuals, Groups, and Institutions), and 10 (Civic Ideals and Practices); C3 D2.His.3, D2.His.4
Reading
Dorothy Height (profile)

Big Idea

Much of the civil rights movement’s work was done by organizations and organizers outside the spotlight, and Height showed how Black women built lasting institutions for change.

Before Class

Students read the profile of Dorothy Height, including the Key Dates and Sources.

Discussion Questions

  1. Height worked at the intersection of race and gender. What did that mean in practice, and why could it be difficult within both the civil rights and the women’s movements?
  2. Height was often the only woman at the planning sessions of the major civil rights leaders. What might she have brought to those meetings, and what might her presence reveal about the movement’s leadership?
  3. Wednesdays in Mississippi brought women together across lines of race and region. Why might quiet, personal contact be an effective strategy for change?
  4. How did Mary McLeod Bethune shape Height’s path, and what does their relationship suggest about the importance of mentors?

Activity

Show the National Archives photograph of Height presenting the Mary McLeod Bethune Human Rights Award to Eleanor Roosevelt in 1960. Students observe the image, then use the profile to explain the connections among Height, Roosevelt, and Bethune, beginning with their meeting in 1937. Next, groups examine the Official Program for the March on Washington and look for women among the listed speakers and honorees. Close by discussing how organizations like the National Council of Negro Women shaped the movement even when their leaders were not at the microphone.

Primary Sources

Cite this page
MLA
“Classroom lesson: Dorothy Height.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/classroom/dorothy-height/.
APA
Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Classroom lesson: Dorothy Height. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/classroom/dorothy-height/
Chicago
Black-History.com Editors. “Classroom lesson: Dorothy Height.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/classroom/dorothy-height/.
Editorial Note

By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.

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