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Focus Magazine

2009 Annual Dinner

WASHINGTON – Long time civil rights leader Dr. Dorothy I. Height, whose activism and influence spans nearly eight decades, became the first woman to receive the Louis E. Martin Great American Award from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, which was presented to her April 21 at the organization’s Annual Gala.

Dr. Height was recognized for her long and distinguished career in the struggle for equality, social justice and human rights for all people, as well as her ongoing leadership as President and Chair Emerita of the National Council of Negro Women and the chairperson of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

The award is named for the distinguished black journalist, presidential advisor and principal founder of the Joint Center. Previous recipients have included Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, as well as U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), civil rights leader Vernon Jordan and former World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali.

2009 Joint Center Annual Dinner Photo Collection 1

2009 Joint Center Annual Dinner Photo Collection 2

View scenes from the 2008 Joint Center Annual Dinner

View more scenes from the 2008 Joint Center Annual Dinner


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Did You Know?

Infant mortality is an especially troubling problem among African Americans. Black babies are more than twice as likely to die before they reach their first birthday as white babies. However, black women breastfeed at the lowest rates of any racial group in our nation. Learn more.