18 Facts About Dorothy Cotton

Dorothy Cotton was an American civil rights activist, who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and a member of the inner circle of one of its main organizations, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Dorothy Cotton said, "I recall nothing nurturing in my home environment".

When Dorothy Cotton was in high school, she met Rosa Gray, an English teacher who positively changed her life and encouraged her to be successful and strong.

When Dr Daniel, a teacher at Shaw, was offered the presidency at Virginia State University, Dorothy Cotton went along and worked as his housekeeper.

Dorothy Cotton described her job at the residence as "part daughter, part housekeeper" While at Virginia State, she met a man by the name of Horace Sims, a student in a Shakespearean class with her, who introduced her to George Dorothy Cotton.

Dorothy Cotton married George in President Daniel's home just after graduating.

Dorothy Cotton then pursued and earned a master's degree in Speech Therapy from Boston University in 1960.

Dorothy Cotton says that she felt drawn to the church because of its involvement in the movement.

Dorothy Cotton read a piece of poetry, and King took an interest and later had a conversation with Dorothy Cotton.

Dorothy Cotton made the decision to go but to stay for only three months.

When Dorothy Cotton first arrived in Atlanta, she was Walker's Administrative Assistant.

At Highlander, Dorothy Cotton met Septima Clark, with whom she would work on the Citizenship Education Program.

And, though she would never publicly reveal her secret, Dorothy Cotton would tell friends that she and King were as close and devoted as husband and wife.

Dorothy Cotton helped James Bevel organize the students during the Birmingham campaign and its Children's Crusade, and conducted citizenship classes throughout the South during the era.

An in-depth interview with Dorothy Cotton was done by the Oral Histories of the Civil Rights History Project, conducted through the University of North Carolina.

Dorothy Cotton relocated to Ithaca, New York in 1982 to serve as Director of Student Activities at Cornell University, a position she held for nearly a decade.

Dorothy Cotton was a gifted singer and often led spirituals at rallies and in classes.

Dorothy Cotton died on June 10,2018, a day after her 88th birthday.