Contents
Pauli Murray
Developing legal arguments against racial and sex discrimination that influenced American civil rights.
States’ Laws on Race and Color · Proud Shoes
- Born
- 20 November 1910
- Birthplace
- Baltimore, United States
- Died
- 1 July 1985
More people
Pauli Murray
American lawyer, writer and Episcopal priest whose work connected racial equality with women’s rights. Murray’s scholarship helped shape arguments later used in major legal victories.
Early life
Raised in Durham
After losing both parents, Murray grew up mainly with an aunt in North Carolina.
College in New York
Studied English at Hunter College, graduating in 1933 during the Depression.
Career
- 1940–1944
Turning to law
An arrest challenging bus segregation preceded legal study at Howard, where Murray graduated top of the class.
- 1950s–1960s
Equality scholarship
Studied discrimination law, earned a Yale doctorate and helped found the National Organization for Women.
- 1970s
Religious vocation
Trained for the Episcopal ministry and was ordained in 1977.
Writings & contributions
States’ Laws on Race and Color
A detailed survey of segregation laws used by civil-rights lawyers.
Proud Shoes
A family history confronting slavery, race and inheritance.
Jane Crow and the Law
An article with Mary Eastwood arguing for equal legal treatment of women.
Beyond work
Gender and identity
Murray questioned the gender assigned at birth and sought medical advice, leaving an unusually detailed personal record.
Poetry and friendship
Wrote poetry and maintained a long correspondence with Eleanor Roosevelt.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and references ↗Biography and contributions ↗Photo: Carolina Digital Library and Archives. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
