Pauli Murray: Black, Non Binary, The Spark of a Revolution

Hey there, my loves! It’s Cerinass, here. You know, in our community, we love to celebrate the fierce icons who went before us, but sometimes, the real trailblazers get lost in the footnotes of history.

Today, I want to talk about one of those unsung heroes, a complex and brilliant soul who fought for their truth on multiple fronts: the incredible Pauli Murray.

Pauli’s story isn’t a simple one. They were a Black person, a non-binary person, a lawyer, a poet, and a priest. And every single one of those identities was a radical act of defiance in the world they were born into. So, let’s get into their story, honey, and celebrate a person who truly lived without limits.

A Life of Unbreakable Truth

Born in Baltimore in 1910, Pauli Murray faced the rigid walls of segregation from day one. Growing up, they knew their Blackness made them a target in America, but they also felt a profound internal struggle with their gender. In their personal writings, Murray explored a deeply felt sense of being male, “a boy,” and desired surgery that was medically unavailable at the time.

Most would say Pauli could be considered Trans, and I’m not saying they where or not, because the language hadn’t developed that term yet. However Pauli was steady fast with pronouns, definitely solidifying the He/She in time.

This meant Pauli had to fight a war on two fronts. They couldn’t just fight racism; they had to fight against a world that had no language for who they were, a world that tried to force them into a box labeled “woman” that never fit. Their courage, in a time when both of these struggles were literally life-threatening, is honestly breathtaking.

A Fire That Sparked a Revolution

Pauli Murray’s mind was a weapon of justice. They were brilliant, and their work left an indelible mark on both the Civil Rights and feminist movements, even when they weren’t getting the credit.

After being denied entry to the University of North Carolina due to their race, Pauli’s legal mind got to work. Their pioneering legal scholarship on civil rights directly influenced Thurgood Marshall, who later used their arguments in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case that dismantled school segregation.

Pauli became the first Black person (First Black Non Binary Person) to receive a Doctor of Juridical Science degree from Yale Law School in 1965.Murray co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) but also critiqued the feminist movement for not addressing the unique struggles of Black women. They wrote about the concept of “Jane Crow,” arguing that racism and sexism were intertwined, a radical idea that we now call intersectionality.

Late in life, they followed a spiritual calling and became the first African American woman ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1977. While this was a groundbreaking moment for Black women in the church, it’s also a powerful testament to their complex identity, as they performed this role while still privately grappling with their gender identity.

An Unsung Hero for All of Us

Pauli Murray’s life was a testament to the power of authenticity. They refused to be confined by the labels or limitations that society tried to impose, fighting for racial justice while simultaneously searching for their own gender truth. They proved that you don’t have to be just one thing, and that true liberation means fighting for everyone’s right to be themselves.

For me, Cerinass, Pauli Murray is a guiding light. They show me that my life, in all its Black, queer, and fabulous glory, is not a contradiction but a statement. Their courage to live openly (even when the language didn’t exist) paved the way for modern movements and for us.
So tonight, when I hit the stage, I’ll be thinking of Pauli Murray—a true warrior, a beautiful soul, and a queen who fought to be free.
Stay fabulous, and keep making some noise!

Cerinass

XOXO

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Sources for Further Reading:

Murray, Pauli. Song in a Weary Throat: Memoir of an American Pilgrimage. Liveright, 2018. (A powerful memoir in their own words).

“My Name is Pauli Murray” (documentary, 2021). A fantastic film available on Amazon Prime Video that shares their story with incredible depth.

Rosenberg, Rosalind. Jane Crow: The Life of Pauli Murray. Oxford University Press, 2017.