"True community is based on upon equality, mutuality, and reciprocity. It affirms the richness of individual diversity as well as the common human ties that bind us together."
About Pauli Murray
Pauli Murray — Life and Legacy
Pauli Murray was a groundbreaking civil rights activist, lawyer, and writer whose work significantly shaped the discourse on gender and racial equality. As a co-founder of the National Organization for Women and a key figure in the civil rights movement, she challenged prevailing norms through her writings and legal theories. Her concept of 'Jane Crow' articulated the unique discrimination faced by Black women, highlighting the intersectionality of race and gender in systemic oppression. Murray’s quote, 'the only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity,' encapsulates her belief that societal barriers, rather than inherent differences, hinder equality. This perspective not only informed her activism but also influenced legal frameworks that sought to dismantle these barriers. Her insistence that 'the law must be a living instrument' underscores her view that legal systems should adapt to the evolving needs of society, particularly for marginalized communities. Today, Murray's insights continue to resonate, reminding us of the ongoing struggles for justice and equality. Her legacy inspires new generations to confront and challenge systemic injustices, making her work as relevant now as it was during her lifetime.
Quote collection
Pauli Murray quotes
6 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Hope is a song in a weary throat."
"Black women, historically, have been doubly victimized by the twin immoralities of Jim Crow and Jane Crow. ... Black women, faced with these dual barriers, have often found that sex bias is more formidable than racial bias."
"What is often called exceptional ability is nothing more than persistent endeavor."
"Great art is not a matter of presenting one side or another, but presenting a picture so full of the contradictions, tragedies, [and] insights of the period that the impact is at once disturbing and satisfying."
"One person plus one typewriter constitutes a movement."