Michelle Obama Watch Honors Dr Dorothy Height
Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 12:46PM Gina, MOW Founder 
Today First Lady Michelle Obama was among the thousands who gathered at the National Cathedral to celebrate the life of civil rights activist and womanist Dr Dorothy Height. It is because of the sacrifices made by women like Dr Height that we stand today.
Cocoa Fly summed it up best...
We Are Because You Were
Dr. Dorothy Height 1912-2010
We are free, because you were not afraid to fight.
We are scholars, because you were passionate about equality in education.
We are lawyers, entrepreneurs, doctors, writers, scientists and more, because you were about the advancement of women.
We are powerful and beautiful because you were a warrior that had style (work that hat sista) and heart.
We are First Lady and one day POTUS, because you marched on Washington and met with presidents to demand change.
We have civil rights, because you were a leader of the movement.
We are praying for your family, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the NCNW, because you were their gem, their sister, their leader.
We are not going to stop striving for justice, because you were a woman who didn't know the word "surrender."
We are here, because you were fearlessly, woman.
Thank you Dr Height. May your spirit find rest in the arms of the Lord.
Posted by Aminah Hanan
Reader Comments (13)
Wow what a service I just wish First Lady Michelle would have worn a Hat and maybe a Suit that would have been so appropriate I know that's not her style but just this once I would have liked to see her in that type of attire..well maybe one day!
Lois, it was a memorial service and Easter is over so I'mma say no to the hat. Laura Bush didn't wear hats. Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and Kathleen Sibeilus don't have on hats.
Excuse me, but what the heck do wearing a hat or suit have to do with today service? There was nothing wrong with the way FLOTUS was dress today. Some women wore hats in honor of Dr. Heights, but that was their choice. Least not focus on what someone had on, but focus on the person who was being laid to rest and what this person meant to our country, and world. It is clear that the Obamas thought alot of Dr. Dorothy Heights. And I'm sure people probably talked about Dorothy Heights and her hats in her day, but Dr. Heights wore what she like. Her hats. So continue to be yourself FLOTUS. I'm sure that's what Dr. Dorothy Heights would tell you. Today a special woman was honor. Now I pray she is at rest in heaven.
Yup, FLOTUS just looked wrong (as usual)! Would it have killed her to wear a hat?
Did Michelle have on stockings at the funeral or was she bare legged.?
I can just imagine sitting around listening to Dr. Heights tell her stories. Meeting Martin Luther King Jr. when he was 15 years old, Wow! This was a wonderful woman, Rest In Peace, Dr. Heights.
And as a proud Black Woman, let me say Thank You, Dr. Dorothy Heights!!!
It's a funeral, not even a memorial service but a funeral. Michelle has never worn a hat before and has said that she is not a hat person. Therefore, I feel that it would have been completely inapproproriate to mock a deceased person's style and turn a sombre affair into a fashion show. Whether Michelle wore stockings or not isn't an issue so let's not make it into one. She looked beautiful (as always) and paid her respects.
Dr Height was not some biker chick who requested that everyone wear canary yellow and electric blue to her funeral. She was a dignified eloquent lady who dedicated her life to a cause that made something such as "President Obama" possible. That is the reason God gave her such a long life, so that she could live to see her dream come to pass unlike Rosa Parks, MLK, Medgar Evers etc etc.
May she rest in pease.
@LUCY Maybe it's just me, but it seems a little bizarre that you're questioning rather or not the First Lady wore stockings.
As far as the hat goes, if she would have worn one many of the same people that ask why she didn't would've still had a problem.
It's the 21st century. Last time I checked women still had free will and could decide if they wanted to wear hats, hose, corsets or whatever else.
Aminah, No disrespect to Lucy because I'm not sure where her line of questioning was going but trust me when I tell you that there are many people out there who would be happy to see Mrs Obama wearing gingham and cleaning the massa's house.
Thank you BC and Aminah. They were there to pay respect to a wonderful woman, Dr. Dorothy Heights.
Thank you Aminah for re-posting my poem.
As for the hat, I agree with Gina. I don't recall seeing Nancy Regan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton or Laura Bush wearing a hat to a memorial service. I don't think it would be appropriate.
And who cares anyway? Mrs. O is FLOTUS and can wear whatever she wants.
But the woman of the hour yesterday was Dorothy Height. She's more important than Mrs. O's wardrobe.
Dr. Dorothy Height's life story is one of those that finds you searching, grasping for air at times in an attempt to find the right words to describe it.
What an example of a life truly well lived!
What an example of commitment, acting out of clear conscience, and elegant determination!
What a life story to make you think about what you, yourself, have done to advance the cause of that which is right, and just and true - whatever that worthy cause might be!
What a great lady. I didn't even know her...and yet, I miss her.
Thank you, Dr. Dorothy Height.