Dorothy Height's Hats: A Look At Her Style Legacy (PHOTOS)

Civil rights godmother Dorothy Height will be buried today in Washington, D.C. after passing away last week at the age of 98. While she will certainly be remembered by those who have struggled with and continue to fight against inequality and prejudice, she will also be celebrated for her love of elaborate and stylish hats. President of the Children's Defense Fund and HuffPost Blogger Marian Wright Edelman wrote:

Through it all, Dr. Height's intellect and strength remained as sharp as her signature sense of style. A musical based on her life was named "If This Hat Could Talk," and anyone who knew Dr. Height and her trademark gorgeous hats understands just how that title was chosen. When Dr. Height was awarded her Congressional Gold Medal, then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton began her tribute by saying she had known Dr. Height for more than thirty years, since they first began working together on the Children's Defense Fund's board--and "just as in those long ago days, today once again, Dr. Height is the best dressed woman in the entire room.

Check out these images taken from C-SPAN's coverage of Height over the years:

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Comments

[Queen Cassandra]

11:00 PM on 05/02/2010

Thank you, Ms. Height.

[TN60]

10:55 AM on 04/30/2010

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8241212

Our President in tears at this funeral.

Facebook, take down that hater's page ................

[iLoveOldNY]

09:16 AM on 04/30/2010

This was an extraordinary woman. Her hats however are hideous. So are Queen Elizabeth's.

What are these women thinking? How can I possibly look more ridiculously laughable today than I did yesterday?

[Javida]

01:14 AM on 05/04/2010

Can it be that you just don't get her sense of fashion and style? Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. Her hats were very chic and high fashion. With most 20, 30 and 40-something style having resorted to t-shirts and blue jeans for nearly all occasions, who would expect any appreciation for the fashionable dress of those like Dorothy Height?

[iLoveOldNY]

03:12 AM on 05/04/2010

I appreciate high fashion and style. I would use the word frumpy or pompous instead of say fashionable or stylish. There is nothing design oriented about these hats. It's more like arts and crafts. I've only seen a few of Dorothy Height's but Queen Elizabeth takes the cake.

No doubt she took the time to dress her Sunday best, but she could have used a shopping buddy.

[ItHasToBeSaid]

03:20 PM on 04/29/2010

Once again, HP, you have missed the mark. While hats may belong in the style section, the great works of Ms. Height belong on your FRONT page . . . bolded, highlighted, celebrated . . . for ALL to see.

When the bust of Ms. Sojourner Truth was put into the Capitol, your headline was all about the First Lady's "Striped Skirt."
When the First Lady herself goes to Government Agencies and Public Schools promoting important agendas, you unfailingly concentrate on 'What She Wore!'
And now, when a great Civil Rights Activist is being honored and celebrated by the country, you focus on her hats.

Sooner or later, I do hope you realize that these women were and are so much more and so much better than your weak, insufficient portrayals.

[jamaicagirl]

03:54 PM on 04/29/2010

As we would say in Jamaica "True words".

[BritishColumbian]

04:06 PM on 04/29/2010

Fanned.....So true as I wrote earlier. I am so pleased you added some background about the coverage of the First Lady.

[lpeggy]

06:48 PM on 04/29/2010

So true. Here are a couple of links for tributes to Dr. Height that include photos with presidents and videos. It also include information on the documentary film in the works on her life

http://the44diaries.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/unseen-footage-dr-dorothy-i-height-with-president-obama-and-first-lady-michelle-at-the-white-house/

http://the44diaries.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/dr-dorothy-i-height-founding-matriarch-of-civil-rights-movement-dies-at-98/

[Tennys Daughter]

02:46 PM on 04/29/2010

As prominent as Ms. Height’s legacy is; you mean to tell me that of all her contributions to America and the civil rights movement, her legacy has been reduced to her attire?

[liberalrebuttal]

03:03 PM on 04/29/2010

Uh, no.

Her style is being honored in addition to her great legacy. This is the "STYLE" section. Not the "POLITICS" section. They are not gonna write a political article in this section. Please stop looking for any excuse to complain.

[AmericanLeslie]

10:06 PM on 04/29/2010

You've missed the point BIG TIME. Yes we know this is the style section. However, off the many contributions Dr. Height made during her 98 years, HP chose to feature her only in the style section and to talk about her hats. It's like talking about Dr. Benjamin Hooks legacy in the sports section and discussing his favorite basketball teams.

[PDXTransplant]

02:17 PM on 04/29/2010

I don't care what Ms. Dorothy Height wore, but I would have loved to had 1 hour to listen to her up close and personal and hear some of the history this woman has see in her years and the challenges she had to overcome. What a beautiful gracious woman. Rest in Peace Dorothy.

[lpeggy]

06:49 PM on 04/29/2010

Here are some videos in her own words :-)

http://the44diaries.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/dr-dorothy-i-height-founding-matriarch-of-civil-rights-movement-dies-at-98/

[MaeBayB]

10:51 PM on 04/29/2010

I attended an event on the mall in Washington, DC a few years ago and had the opportunity to hear Ms. Height speak. She sat gracefully in her wheel chair; all dolled up in a lovely suit and hat and relayed one account after the other. The accounts she spoke of were historical moments that transformed America. She exuded such grace and dignity. I treasure that moment... and consider it a blessing.

[Skiwee]

02:05 PM on 04/29/2010

We have lost a great lady. RIP Ms Height, the Lord is waiting.

[plow]

12:55 PM on 04/29/2010

I wish I had known more about her before she died. Maybe school needs to concentrate on our living heroes as well as those who have passed on.

[raphaella]

12:51 PM on 04/29/2010

you guys priorities in the US of A are frigging twisted. you devoted how many weeks and how many headlines to MJ ? i can't even count. but here is a Woman who paved the way for countless people, gave voice to the voiceless and you guys can't even give her funeral a headline? and to add insult to all of this you choose to focus on her style. what a frigging mess!!. shame on you given how you prided yourself to be a progressive website. i can't wait for you to tell us what the First lady was wearing!!!

[Vige]

02:26 PM on 04/29/2010

MJ I can ignore. Our other obsession SP is like fingernails on a blackboard screeching Death Panels that annoy most.

Your point is well made. we don't have our priorities in the right place.

Good post.

[Pema]

05:26 PM on 04/29/2010

i have my prioties in the right place. helping people, animals and nature. the problem is fighting the corp machinery

[AmericanLeslie]

10:08 PM on 04/29/2010

Agreed and fanned. But it's not our priorities but those of the media. Their agenda is extremely transparent and demeaning.

[raphaella]

12:47 PM on 04/29/2010

you guys priorities in the US of A are frigging twisted. you devoted how many weeks and how many headlines to MJ ? i can't even count. but here is a Woman who paved the way for countless people, gave voice to the voiceless and you guys can't even give her funeral a headline? and to add insult to all of this you choose to focus on her style. what a frigging mess!!. shame on you given how you prided yourself to be a progressive website. i can't wait for you to tell us what the First lady was wearing!!!

[yougogirl1948]

01:16 PM on 04/29/2010

@raphella:


I fanned you. What you just wrote is so true about this site.

[ItHasToBeSaid]

03:00 PM on 04/29/2010

Thank you. So well-said and I couldn't agree more. I'd fan you again if I could.

[BritishColumbian]

11:43 AM on 04/29/2010

As a American and Canadian woman who looks on Dr. Haight as one of my most cherished heroes, I take great offence that this is the way that HP decides to "honour" her. No overview of her life's work and struggles...rather a chance to vote on a favorite hat. And I don't care if this is the STYLE section. This great American icon deserves better than this.

[Pema]

01:16 PM on 04/29/2010

are you american or canadian? dual citizenship?

[BritishColumbian]

04:10 PM on 04/29/2010

dual citizenship...lived in America until the Kent state murders and then left to attend university in Canada...have lived in Canada since.

[demimckingwoodtx]

11:33 AM on 04/29/2010

When a lady wears a crown she shines in all of her glory, R.I.P. Mrs Heights you are missed!

[theredqueen]

11:30 AM on 04/29/2010

Very elegant.

[LegalMomma]

11:14 AM on 04/29/2010

Gorgeous! To have that sense of style and not be afraid to indulge it, all while doing such important work- truly amazing! Her death is a great loss for this country.

[JFaye]

11:20 AM on 04/29/2010

I absolutely agree with you and there is nothing as lovely as a woman in a hat. Many of the older women in my family still don hats. I have a few and when I wear them publicly, it amazes me how many women comment.

[MissMel10]

11:09 AM on 04/29/2010

Sister Height was the epitome of southern charm and class. She will be greatly missed.

[maiali]

11:28 AM on 04/29/2010

Sista Dorothy Height embodied the dignity, class and inimitable style and grace of countless generations of African American women. Her signature hats---crowns---are the emblems of a rich cultural tradition---a tradition that can still be seen on Sunday mornings at countless African American churches, and at numerous social occasions, where ever black women convene.