History Lessons Hit Different Now
"True community is based upon equality, mutuality, and reciprocity. It affirms the richness of individual diversity as well as the common human ties that bind us together. " ~ Pauli Murray
My favorite subjects growing up were math and science. History and English were my least favorite.
However, as time passes I find myself more and more interested in learning about how things were, how far we’ve come, and how we can use this information to shape the future.
When times get challenging in business, I take a mindful pause to give myself a moment to get some altitude on my thoughts. In these moments I often find myself in a space of gratitude.
Have you ever learned something that gave you more clarity, confidence, and awareness about who you are?
One thing that keeps me going is learning about historical figures and ancestors that paved the way and walked this earth long before I did.
On rare occasions, I stumbled upon someone who is equally remarkable and perplexing. Remarkable because of all the ways they were able to exist in a world that repeatedly tried to bury them. Someone who continues to transcend time, long after they have left the physical realm.
"Pauli Murray changed my life. And they have likely changed yours too."
Perplexing because this is a person who has been described as one of the architects of the Civil Rights movement" and yet I didn't learn about them until I was well into adulthood and outside of a formal education system.
Pauli Murray changed my life. And they have likely changed yours too.
A mindful pause:
Before you google them, please be aware that there are other names that they used (or called) over the course of their life, as well as pronouns. In this article, I am using they/them pronouns to honor the humanity of someone who lived in a time where experience preceded the language to articulate what was happening. #PronounPractice
How can someone provide insight that would ultimately be used by Thurgood Marshall (and team) to win Brown v. Board of Education?
How could this same person be cited by Ruth Bader Ginsburg on her first gender and equality brief that helped — win Reed v. Reed, the Supreme Court decision that said the Equal Protection Clause applies to women?
“Pauli had the idea that we should interpret the text literally; it said ‘any person’ not ‘any male person,'”
~ RBG (Time, 2020)
This landmark case was when the Court held that the law's dissimilar treatment of men and women was unconstitutional.
How could this person be besties with Eleanor Roosevelt and at some point receive a letter of recommendation to Harvard from president Roosevelt?
To which Harvard replied, “Your picture and the salutation on your college transcript indicate that you are not of the sex entitled to be admitted to Harvard Law School.”
How can one person contribute so much to history and yet, most of us still have no idea who they are?
Pauli Murray is one of the most fascinating people I’ve come across in a long time and if this is your first introduction to them you are in for a treat.
Deep gratitude to all those who have found a way to keep showing up even when you are the "first and only" to do so.
Let's keep the conversation going in the comments. I would love to know your thoughts.
Check out some of these resources to learn more:
Watch
- My Name Is Pauli Murray on Prime Video
- Amend: The Fight for America on Netflix
Articles: