Luigi Alamanni and Dorothy Height: Difference between pages

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'''Luigi Alamanni''' (sometimes spelt '''Alemanni''') ([[1495]]-[[1556]]), Italian poet and statesman, was born in [[Florence]]. He was regarded as a prolific and versatile poet, and is credited with introducing the [[epigram]] into Italian poetry.

{{Infobox Biography

|subject_name=Dorothy I. Height|120px

|image_name= DorothyHeight_Book_Nordstrom_VA_15feb97.jpg

|image_caption= Dorothy Irene Height

|date_of_birth=[[March 24]], [[1912]]

|place_of_birth=[[Richmond, Virginia]] {{USA}}

|date_of_death=

|place_of_death=

}}

'''Dorothy Irene Height''' (born [[March 24]], [[1912]]) is an [[African American]] [[Public administration|administrator]], [[educator]], social [[Activism|activist]], and a recipient of the [[Congressional Gold Medal]].

Height was born in [[Richmond, Virginia]]. At an early age, she moved with her family to [[Rankin, Pennsylvania]]. While in high school, Height was awarded a scholarship to [[Barnard College]] for her oratory skills, but upon arrival was denied entrance. (At the time, Barnard admitted only two African Americans per academic year and Dorothy had arrived after the other two admittees.) Years later, at its [[1980]] commencement ceremonies, the college awarded Height its highest honor, the [[List_of_Barnard_College_people#Recipients_of_the_Medal_of_Distinction|

His father was a devoted adherent of the [[Medici]] party, but Luigi, smarting under a supposed injustice, joined with others in an unsuccessful conspiracy against [[Giulio de'Medici]], afterwards [[Pope Clement VII]]. He was obliged in consequence to take refuge in [[Venice]], and, on the accession of Clement, to flee to France. When Florence shook off the papal yoke in 1527, Alamanni returned,

Barnard Medal of Distinction]]. She later pursued studies at [[New York University]], where she earned her Master's Degree in psychology.

and took a prominent part in the management of the affairs of the

republic.

Height started working as a caseworker with the New York City Welfare Department, but at the age of twenty-five, she began her [[civil rights]] activist's career when she joined the [[National Council of Negro Women]]. She fought for equal rights for both African Americans and women, and in [[1944]] she joined the national staff of the [[YWCA]]. She served as National President of [[Delta Sigma Theta]], Incorporated from 1946-1957.

On the restoration of the Medici in 1530 he had again to take refuge in France, where he composed the greater part of his works. He was a favourite with [[Francis I of France|Francis I]], who sent him as ambassador to [[Charles V]]. after the [[Peace of Crepy]] in

1544.

She remained active with the organization until [[1977]], and while there she developed leadership training programs and interracial and ecumenical education programs. In [[1957]], Height was named president of the National Council of Negro Women, a position she held until [[1997]]. During the height of the [[American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)|civil rights movement]] of the 1960s, Height organized "[[Wednesdays in Mississippi]]", which brought together black and white women from the North and South to create a dialogue of understanding. American leaders regularly took her counsel, including [[First Lady]] [[Eleanor Roosevelt]], and Height also encouraged [[President of the United States|President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] to desegregate schools and President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] to appoint African American women to positions in government.

As an instance of his tact in this capacity, it is

related that, when Charles interrupted a complimentary address

by quoting from a satirical poem of Alamanni's the words:

''"l' aquila grifagna, Che per piu devorar, duoi rostri porta''" (''"Two crooked bills the ravenous eagle bears, The better to devour''"),

the latter at once replied that he spoke them as a poet, who

was permitted to use fictions, but that he spoke now as an

ambassador, who was obliged to tell the truth. The ready

reply pleased Charles, who added some complimentary words.

[[Image:dorothyheight.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Dorothy Height]] Height has served on a number of committees, including as a consultant on African affairs to the Secretary of State, the President's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped, and the President's Committee on the Status of Women. She has received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the ''[[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] [[Freedom From Want Award]]'' and the [[Spingarn Medal]] from the [[NAACP]]. She has also been inducted into the [[National Women's Hall of Fame]].

After the death of Francis, Alamanni enjoyed the confidence

of his successor [[Henry II.]], and in 1551 was sent by him as his

ambassador to [[Genoa]]. He died at [[Amboise]] on the 18th of April

1556.

In [[2004]], she was awarded the [[Congressional Gold Medal]] by President [[George W. Bush]] on behalf of the [[United States Congress]].

He wrote a large number of poems, distinguished by

the purity and excellence of their style. The best is a

didactic poem, ''La Coltivazione'' (Paris, 1546), written

in imitation of [[Virgil]]'s [[Georgics]]. His ''Opere Toscane''

(Lyons, 1532) consists of satirical pieces written in [[blank

verse]]. An unfinished poem, ''Avarchide'', in imitation of

the [[Iliad]], was the work of his old age and has little

merit.

Dr. Height is currently, at age 95, the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the [[Leadership Conference on Civil Rights]], the largest civil rights organization in the USA.

It has been said by some that Alamanni was the first

to use blank verse in Italian poetry, but the distinction

belongs rather to his contemporary [[Giangiorgio Trissino]]. He

also wrote:

*a poetical romance, ''Girone il Cortese'' (Paris, 1548)

*a tragedy, ''Antigone''

*a comedy, ''Flora''

The musical stageplay ''If This Hat Could Talk'', based on her memoirs "Open Wide The Freedom Gates", opened in the summer of 2005 and is currently on tour. It showcases her unique perspective on the civil rights movement and details many of the behind-the-scenes figures/mentors who shaped her life, including [[Mary McLeod Bethune]] and [[Eleanor Roosevelt]].

His works were published, with a biography by P. Raffaelli, as ''Versi e prose di Luigi Alamanni'' (Florence, 1859).

==References==

See also:

*Height, Dorothy. ''Open Wide the Freedom Gates: A Memoir.''

*G. Naro, ''Luigi Alamanni e la coltivazione'' (Syracuse, 1897)

*and C . Corso, ''Un decennio di patriottismo di Luigi Alamanni'' (Palermo, 1898).

[[Category:1912 births|Height, Dorothy]]

[[Category:Living people|Height, Dorothy]]

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[[Category:African Americans|Height, Dorothy]]

Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed

[[Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients|Height, Dorothy]]