Civil Rights Leader Dorothy Height Honored

Oprah, other celebrities attend Washington gala

A star-studded gala in Washington Thursday night paid tribute to civil rights icon Dr. Dorothy Height.

The "Uncommon Height Awards Gala" has become a yearly tribute in celebration of Height's birthday. This year, she turns 97. Dr. Height was the only female of the "Big 6" civil rights activists, which included Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Ralph Abernathy, Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph and James Farmer.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey and Access Hollywood host Shaun Robinson were among the celebrities in attendance at the Washington Hilton to honor Height.

Height is credited with getting the Tuskegee Airmen recognition for their contributions during World War II. She is also known as a driving force in desegregating the work force at the Pentagon.

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