In honor of Black History Month 2026, DOJ Pride recognizes Pauli Murray (1910–1985) — a pioneering civil rights attorney, legal scholar, feminist author, and trailblazing Episcopal priest. Murray was a visionary advocate for equality whose work shaped the legal foundations of both the modern civil rights and women’s rights movements. She co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) and coined the term “Jane Crow” to describe the dual burdens of racial and gender discrimination. Her groundbreaking legal scholarship directly influenced landmark Supreme Court decisions challenging segregation and sex discrimination. Murray was the first African American to earn a Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) degree from Yale Law School and, in 1977, became the first Black woman ordained as an Episcopal priest. Pauli Murray’s life and legacy continue to inspire the ongoing pursuit of justice, dignity, and equal protection under the law.
DOJ Pride 