Pauli

Pauli. . , Pauli Murray, 1910-1985, believed in justice, reconciliation, and freedom. She championed the cause of human rights through her work as an author, educator, lawyer, feminist, poet and priest. ,

“It has taken me almost a lifetime to discover that true emancipation lies in the acceptance of the whole past, in deriving strength from all my roots, in facing up to the degradation as well as the dignity of my ancestors.” – Pauli Murray, Proud Shoes

photo caption: , Pauli Murray, 1960s. Courtesy of Schlessinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University. , second panel: , Living by Word and Deed , Pauli Murray lived one of the most remarkable lives of the twentieth century. Always ahead of her time, she played key roles in the public fights for African American and women's rights while wrestling with the personal issues raised by her economic struggles, sexuality and gender identity. , Words became her tools in the fight for liberation. She wrote letters to newspapers, memos to Congress, law textbooks, sermons, speeches and memoirs. She chronicled her life and work, marking it as important and impactful. Resilience and persistence kept her in the ring. ,

“One person plus one typewriter constitutes a movement.” – -Pauli Murray, Song in a Weary Throat

photo caption: , Pauli Murray, 1964, with a poster of Sojouner Truth behind her. Courtesy of Schlessinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University. , third panel: , A Vision for Justice and Equity , Pauli Murray drew on her life experiences to craft a broad vision of justice, equity and human rights. As a woman, a person of color, a worker and a member of the LGBTQ community, Murray refused to be restricted by categories of gender, race, class and sexuality. She aspired to an integrated body, mind and spirit that required a holistic sense of self. , She pushed friends and colleagues to expand their visions as well. She fought to lift up women in the civil rights movement, and women of color in the women's rights movement. She believed that leaving anyone behind on the road to full equality would neglect a part of herself. This powerful idea of wholeness is key to addressing the enduring inequities of our contemporary world. , photo caption: , Pauli Murray marching in support of the Equal Rights Amendment, Washington D.C., August 1978. Courtesy of Schlessinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.