Pauli Murray Mural- 1101 W. Chapel Hill

Pauli Murray (1910-1985) was an influential queer, civil rights, and women’s activist. Murray would use “he/she” pronouns to describe themselves in messages to family. Gender neutral and neo-pronouns were not nearly as prevalent or used in the same way they are used today, and therefore, it is hard to determine what pronouns to use to refer to Murray. The Pauli Murray Center uses he, she, and they interchangeably to reference Murray, which will also be done throughout this post, along with just the use of his name. 

Murray’s gender identity is unique in that they identified with both masculine and feminine characteristics, but acknowledged that, as a femme-presenting person, they faced considerably more challenges than a white woman or black man. Murray was married to a man, but also had numerous relationships with women. To explain his identity, Murray did not use the term lesbian, but rather saw his role in relationships with women as a man who attracted bisexual women. When saying bisexual, Murray was referring to himself as a man with female partners attracted to his masculinity, demonstrating the fluidity with which Murray understood their queer identity.  

This specific mural is entitled “Pauli Murray Roots and Soul,” made by Brett Cook. It is one of five Pauli Murray murals located throughout Durham. Each of these murals includes quotes and/or imagery of Murray that resonate with their lasting impact.

Murray’s influence on the civil rights, women’s, and LGBTQ+ movements in the United States throughout the twentieth century cannot be overstated. She actively worked towards desegregation, unpacking racism in law, and promoting the recognition of Black women’s contributions to the activist movements during this time. She helped organize Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) and the National Organization for Women (NOW), although she left NOW due to the organization's failure to adequately represent working-class women and women of color. For more resources on Murray’s activism and life, I recommend the Pauli Murray Center’s resource page.