Pauli Murray: A Personal and Political Life

by Troy R. Saxby

The Rev. Dr. Anna Pauline "Pauli" Murray (1910–1985) was a trailblazing social activist, writer, lawyer, civil rights organizer, and campaigner for gender rights. In the 1930s and 1940s, she was active in radical left-wing political groups and helped innovate nonviolent protest strategies against segregation that would become iconic in later decades, and in the 1960s, she cofounded the National Organization for Women (NOW). In addition, Murray became the first African American to receive a Yale law doctorate and the first black woman to be ordained an Episcopal priest. Yet, behind her great public successes, Murray battled many personal demons, including bouts of poor physical and mental health, conflicts over her gender and sexual identities, family traumas, and financial difficulties. In this intimate biography, Troy Saxby provides the most comprehensive account of Murray's inner life to date, revealing her struggles in poignant detail and deepening our understanding and admiration of her numerous achievements in the face of pronounced racism, homophobia, transphobia, and political persecution. Saxby interweaves the personal and the political, showing how the two are always entwined, to tell the life story of one of twentieth-century America's most fascinating and inspirational figures.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2020

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive cradle to grave biography, but a biography with a twist: it isn't a simply hagiography but a complex consideration of the human being behind the public achievements. This isn't to say that the author doesn't chronicle Murray's many and very significant achievement, but rather that the focus is looking at how Murray felt, reacted and saw herself, a perspective made possible by Murray's extensive personal archives.

The result is a moving look at the ways in which people are heroes not because they are inherently braver, better, or smarter but rather the opposite; heroics are achieved by ordinary people compelled to act even in the face of fear, doubt, illness, poverty and the intense pressures of internalised social discourses that tell them they can't, shouldn't and aren't. A side effect of this consideration is a question of how biographies traditionally feed into the narrativisation and often simplification of people's lives, when really how we understand ourselves and our lives is rarely so clean cut when we are actually living it.

Of course, the book is also a good and very well written snapshot into the times that Murray lived through, providing insight into the impacts of the Great Depression, the long Civil Rights era, McCarthyism and changing ideas regarding race, gender and sex, amongst other eras and issues experienced by Murray during her long life.

Highly recommend!

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

How have I never heard of this remarkable woman? Recommended by the North Carolina 2022 NC Reads program, this book details the life and achievements of Pauli Murray, detailing her personal experiences in Jim Crow America and how it shaped her. She was a confidant of Eleanor Roosevelt, a designer of the peaceful protest strategy of the 1960s civil rights era, a founder of NOW, and one of the first ordained women Episcopal priests. I’m sure there is more but my library loan of the book was up and I’ll need to wait for the my next turn to finish the book.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only learned about this North Carolina hero because the biography was on the NC Reads list and I got to see a conversation between the author and the woman who runs the Pauli Murray Center in Durham. Pauli was a complicated human, and I appreciated another perspective on American history during the last century.
Also, I really want to visit Durham, NC where they have street art celebrating Pauli!

[Jazz Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography stands out for its intimate and candid portrayal of Pauli Murray, whose life as recorded in these pages is as relatable as it is turbulent. The narrative compellingly draws the reader through her series of misadventures, from personal fallouts to professional setbacks, yet it's her indomitable spirit in the face of horrific social oppression that captures the essence of her story. Murray's resilience, as she navigates a life marked by both failure and success, makes for an inspiring read.

Troy Saxby's handling of Murray's experiences is noteworthy for its sensitivity and lack of judgment. By exploring the discrepancies between Murray's self-narrated story and the actual events of her life, Saxby offers a respectful tribute to her subject. This approach not only enriches the readers appreciation of Murray's life and character but also reflects Saxby's deft skill in biographical writing.

In concise prose, the book reveals Saxby's deep contemplation and admirable respect for Murray, presenting her life's narrative with clarity and thoughtfulness. It's a fascinating homage to a remarkable woman's journey and life. For those interested in the complexities of a life fully lived, this biography is a compelling testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure and thrive.

[Julia P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pauli Murray led a long and productive life, but she struggled to keep a job and often felt inadequate. Nonetheless, she successfully campaigned for Civil Rights and Women's rights in both the government and church. In her 60s, having already become a lawyer with multiple degrees and 'firsts' to her name she set out to become ordained as a female priest when the Episcopalian church was not yet ordaining women. I'm ultimately glad I read this book instead of her autobiography. Generally, I feel it is important to hear the person's thoughts directly from them. Since Pauli Murray struggled to come to terms with her own sexuality or her family's mental health history, an outside narrator from a more accepting time helps bridge those gaps that she was unable/unwilling/unsafe to speak aloud into.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a firebrand

Of all the Pauli Murray biographies I've read, Saxby's is the most thorough in addressing the personal matters--her attraction to women (which apparently shamed Murray) and mental illness--ignored in Murray's autobiography and skirted around in the other books.
This brilliant, complicated woman's ideas about racism and sexism informed so much of what we call "the civil rights movement" and she deserves to be much more widely remembered.

[Craig Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched overview of the life of an exceptionally complex and significant figure who never fully resolved the internal tensions grounded in her family history and sexuality with her fierce political commitment to human rights, encompassing both race and gender.

[Don Mcrae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring story of a remarkable women. Only now is she finding her place in history.

[Artina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very hard textbook-like read.