Dorothy Irene Height  legendary figure in the 1960′s  civil rights movement died in Howard University hosptial She was 98 years old. Born in Richmond Virgina in March 24,1912. She was an extremely brilliant woman who earned her BA and MA at New York University in 4years.

Height dedicated her life to service of the people and still some of us have failed to realize is just how her life shaped the direction and forward motion of our  own. Her leadership skills were  key in heading several organizations through out her life.UYCM ( United Youth Christian Movement)  NCNW( National Council of Negro Women for 40years, YWCA to name a few – one of her more infamous movements “Wednesday in Mississippi”consisted of women from different races and faiths from all around the globe. Her founding organization assisted Freedom schools and voter registration drives. And perhaps most important she made her presence well known to many of her male counterparts of her time such as, Philip Randolph Whitney H. Young and Martin Luther King Jr She was there to ensure black women’s rights were addressed.   Dr Height proved essential when it came to important legacies  such as “ The Bethune Council House” a national historic site which contains national archives for black woman’s history. She received 40 honorary doctorates from educational insitutions  Spell man College, Princeton University and of course NewYork University.Height was the winner of many awards Congressional Gold Medal,  inducted into National Woman’s Hall Of Fame.Her memoir “Open Wide the Gates” later became a well known stage musical “If This Hat Could Talk”Im grateful this woman lived I would not be where I am today as a black woman in North America if it had’nt been for her tireless efforts. Perhaps her birthday should be a National holiday?   source: thegrio.com

Essence.com has an exclusive first interview with Roslyn Brock, the new Chairperson of the NAACP.

While the interview is moderately interesting, and a rather light read at about 400 or so words, there’s nothing more in the interview then the information included in the NAACP press release and Roslyn Brock’s Web Site.

ESSENCE.com: What are some of your plans for the NAACP?
BROCK: I really want to focus on the NAACP when it comes to what I call PGA, which is an acronym for Policy, Government and Accountability at the board level as well as focusing our ability to properly align our support with the work of the NAACP. I want to make sure that our message is relevant for a new generation of civil rights and human rights advocates.

Essence.com Interview with Roslyn Brock

[...]

Julian Bond long-time chair of the NAACP and founder of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee has stepped down as the chairman of the NAACP. In his place the youngest and first woman Vice Chair Roslyn Brock will now become the chairperson of the NAACP.

Although I no longer feel the NAACP is relevant to day-to-day advocacy in the lives of many African Americans in the United States and members of the African Diaspora, I do think this is interesting news.  With two younger members Ben Jealous, at 35, and Roslyn Brock, at 44, the organization could change for the better.

However, given the new success of organizations like color0fchange.org, I doubt the NAACP will be able to change fast enough.
NAACP.org

UPDATE I Interestingly this is a position that is voted on from within the 64 board directors of the NAACP organization — but, it’s clear that each potential directorial candidate runs their own campaign to become head of the organization. Here is Roslyn Brock’s site supporting her candidacy: whoisroslynbrock.com/