Pauli Murray coined the phrase “Jane Crow” to expose the dual oppression Black women face at the intersection of race and gender. Murray also wrote the paper that inspired Thurgood Marshall's winning strategy for the Brown v. Board of education case.
In a time when being LGBTQIA+ was highly illegal, Murray questioned gender norms. With limited language for gender pronouns, throughout their life Murray alternated using she/he pronouns.
Murray often wondered if she/he was born, “a girl who should have been a boy." Murray sought out gender affirming medical care but was denied. Grieving, Murray persisted.
Murray understood that anything anti-women or anti-LGBTQIA+ was automatically anti-Black. Throughout their career as a lawyer, Reverend, and Civil Rights activist, Murray battled oppressive legislation that discriminated against race, gender, and sexuality.
And Murray wasn’t fighting alone.
Many Black Civil Rights activists were shamed for their queerness due to anti-Black politics.
In reality, the Civil Rights Movement is rooted in Black queer history and identity.
There’s no Black liberation without Black queer liberation. Like Murray, we must stand for what’s right even if the world is shouting we’re wrong.
What side of history do you want to be on? History is happening RIGHT NOW.