Pauli Murray: The Autobiography of a Black Activist, Feminist, Lawyer, Priest, and Poet

by Pauli Murray

Pauli Murray (1910-1985)is regarded as "one of the least discussed figures in the history of twentieth-century African American women's activism." She was a highly regarded Feminist, who called attention to the plight of women, especially the colored and working poor. Roy Wilson

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Feminism, History, Biography, Race, LGBT

464 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

The Reverend Dr. Anna Pauline "Pauli" Murray (November 20, 1910 – July 1, 1985) was an American civil rights activist, women's rights activist, lawyer, and author. She was also the first black woman ordained an Episcopal priest.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Murray was raised mostly by her maternal grandparents. At the age of sixteen, she moved to New York to attend Hunter College, graduating with a B.A. in English in 1933. In 1940, Murray was arrested with a friend for violating Virginia segregation laws after they sat in the whites-only section of a bus. This incident, and her subsequent involvement with the socialist Workers' Defense League, inspired her to become a civil rights lawyer, and she enrolled at Howard University. During her years at Howard, she became increasingly aware of sexism, which she called "Jane Crow", the sister of the Jim Crow racial segregation laws. Murray graduated first in her class, but was denied the chance to do further work at Harvard University because of her gender. In 1965 she became the first African American to receive a J.S.D. from Yale Law School.

As a lawyer, Murray argued for civil rights and women's rights. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Chief Counsel Thurgood Marshall called Murray's 1950 book States' Laws on Race and Color the "bible" of the civil rights movement. Murray served on the 1961 Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and in 1966 was a co-founder of the National Organization for Women. Ruth Bader Ginsburg later named Murray a coauthor on a brief for Reed v. Reed in recognition of her pioneering work on gender discrimination. Murray held faculty or administrative positions at the Ghana School of Law, Benedict College, and Brandeis University.

In 1973, Murray left academia for the Episcopal Church, becoming a priest, and was named an Episcopal saint in 2012. Murray struggled with issues related to her sexual and gender identity, describing herself as having an "inverted sex instinct"; she had a brief, annulled marriage to a man and several relationships with women, and in her younger years, occasionally passed as a teenage boy. In addition to her legal and advocacy work, Murray published two well-reviewed autobiographies and a volume of poetry.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of Pauli Murray before reading this book for school, and I'm glad I did as she is an absolutely fascinating woman whose influence and contribution to the American civil rights movement and feminism is far reaching. Strangely I don't feel as though this book sheds much light on Pauli Murray as a person. I now know about all her accomplishments, the important people she worked with, but she seemed to go out of her way to keep from revealing her true self. She obviously was uncomfortable with her own sexuality and gender identity, and it's obvious she held a lot of these feelings back in her memoir.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give Pauli Murray’s book more than 5 stars if I could. It is a fantastic book that embraces history, politics, and her personal life. I relished it cover to cover. It takes time to read because of all the details but it was so worth reading all of it. She became one of my heroes in the process. A woman I would have loved to have met, or even hear speak. Wisely and intelligently and poetically, she writes about being a black woman under Jim Crow US and afterwards as well as being a behind-the-scenes founder of The National Organization for Women. The range of her experiences during the 30s 40s 60s and 70s and her perspective as a black woman are invaluable lessons in history. She was an activist, writer, teacher, lawyer, feminist, poet, and priest. Although she did mention how important Irene Barlow was in her life, it is not clear if they were intimate partners. The only thing I wished she would have written about is her sexual identity but it may have taken a book in itself. She has done so much for humanity through her struggles and activism!

[Cleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pauli Murray means a lot to me and she is incredible! I will say she does drag on a LOT in this book, but that's all the reason to take it slow when reading it. You know, work on it over a couple of months.

Despite the size, I think there's a lot more to learn about Pauli Murray because from what I've read elsewhere, I don't believe she was entirely comfortable in their sexuality and she doesn't seem to characterize much of herself as a person beyond her perseverance. Either way, this is a GREAT starting point to learn more about Pauli Murray and about "Jane Crow."

[Noriko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pauli Murray. Her name needs to shouted from the roof tops! She lived American history with every step she took.

[Amy Hughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent book should be required reading for American History courses. Pauli Murray’s experience was central in the civil rights and women’s rights movement. Frank, meticulous, and beautifully written, the narrative of Murray’s life details her personal journey while shedding a light on numerous personal and structural barriers she encountered to her success. Because many of those barriers have simply morphed over time, it’s unfortunate that this remains so relevant rather than a relic of the USA’s racist and sexist past.
Through this unique and impactful book, it’s possible to see the unceasing and innovative efforts behind social progress and reflect on just how much more work remains to be done. It is a credit to Murray’s life and to her writing skill that so many lessons can be pulled from this volume to inform the work happening now.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an excellent book on many levels. Pauli, born in 1910, had a fascinating life including fights to get into Howard Law School (successful) and Harvard Law School (not), working on research that helped with the winning case of Brown Vs the Board of Education, teaching law at the brand new law school in recently liberated Ghana, and teaching and having an office in the building occupied by black power students in 1968, helping to found the National Organization of Women, and eventually becoming one of the first women to be ordained in the Episcopal Church. She was an excellent writer and I also highly recomment her book Proud Shoes about the complexities of her family heritage.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eloquently written

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough account of a woman who lived before her time, confronting civil rights and the role of women and ultimately turning to priesthood in the Episcopal Church. While thoroughly detailed, any biography of this type can start to drag, but the incredible nature of her life propelled me onward.

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing woman, amazing book. I highly recommend it.

[Kara Merry · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time I learned that the Civil Rights movement started before the sixties.Aha moment.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pauli Murray lived an incredible life and this book is an important part of American and Civil Rights history.