Day 13: Pauli Murray - Legal Pioneer, Spiritual Prophet

Day 13: Pauli Murray – Legal Pioneer, Spiritual Prophet

Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray was a visionary whose brilliance spanned law, theology, and poetry. A Black, gender-nonconforming activist, Murray often described themself as living in the “in-between,” neither fully accepted as a woman nor able to live openly as a man in their time. It was this very complexity that shaped their prophetic vision for justice and equality.

The Legal Architect of Civil Rights

Murray’s legal scholarship became the foundation for some of the most important civil rights victories of the twentieth century. Their 1944 law school thesis at Howard University argued that segregation was unconstitutional, laying the groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Thurgood Marshall referred to their work as the “Bible” of civil rights law.

In the 1960s, Murray coined the term Jane Crow to describe the intertwined oppression of racism and sexism that Black women endured. As a co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966, Murray insisted that gender equality was inseparable from racial justice. Their intersectional approach shaped feminist and legal strategies that continue to influence movements for equity today.

A Firebrand and Historic Friendship

Murray also shared a remarkable 25-year friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt. What began as a critical letter to the First Lady in 1938 grew into a deep, transformative correspondence. Their friendship challenged both women to expand their understanding of race, privilege, and power. As Patricia Bell-Scott describes in The Firebrand and the First Lady, their relationship “enriched the conversation about race and added vital fuel to the movement for human rights in America.”

Faith as Liberation

Later in life, Murray became the first Black person perceived as a woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1977. Their sermons and theological writings framed queerness, Blackness, and gender complexity as sacred gifts to the church and to the world. Through both faith and activism, Murray invited people to see God’s image in every human expression and identity.

“Hope is a song in a weary throat.” – Pauli Murray

A Legacy That Endures

Murray’s reflections on identity, particularly their understanding of living “in-between,” continue to inspire queer and trans people, faith leaders, and justice seekers today. Their life reminds us to see complexity as holy, to honor those who live beyond narrow categories, and to recognize that true liberation must include everyone.