Jane Crow

The Life of Pauli Murray

By: Rosalind Rosenberg

Narrated by: Janina Edwards

In this definitive biography, Rosalind Rosenberg offers a poignant portrait of Pauli Murray, who played pivotal roles in both the modern civil rights and women's movements.

A mixed-race orphan, Murray grew up in segregated North Carolina before escaping to New York, where she attended Hunter College and became a labor activist in the 1930s. When she applied to graduate school at the University of North Carolina, where her white great-great-grandfather had been a trustee, she was rejected because of her race. She went on to graduate first in her class at Howard Law School, only to be rejected for graduate study again at Harvard University this time on account of her sex. Undaunted, Murray forged a singular career in the law. In the 1950s, her legal scholarship helped Thurgood Marshall challenge segregation head-on in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.

When appointed by Eleanor Roosevelt to the President's Commission on the Status of Women in 1962, she advanced the idea of Jane Crow, arguing that the same reasons used to condemn race discrimination could be used to battle gender discrimination. In 1965, she became the first African American to earn a JSD from Yale Law School and the following year persuaded Betty Friedan to found an NAACP for women, which became NOW.

©2017 Oxford University Press (P)2020 Tantor

Everyone should read this book

Pauli Murray's journey through life is important for everyone to be familiar with. Pauli dealt with racial, gender, and all types of prejudices and barriers to become an activist, attorney and reverend from the 1930s to 1980s.

MY NEW HERO!

why have I never heard of Pauly Murray before? She is absolutely my new hero! Amazing to hear that so many of the equal rights that we ALL enjoy go back to the foundation that she put into place. This book is thorough, well written, has many personal details that are amazing! Recommended!

An intimate biography of an amazing woman!

Pauli Murray's life as a black woman who felt she was a man and who broke so many barriers is vivid and beautifully read! With all she accomplished, she constatly struggled to have enough money to live.

Jane Crow is an important historical book.

This book connects historical context to the life experiences and contributions of Paul Murray.

True Trailblazer and American Hero!

Pauli Murray was ahead of their time. We As Americans owe so much of our success to Dr. Pauli Murray. This should be required reading for all high school students. What an amazing life, story, and inspirational book!