We hope this finds you well. The global Covid-19 crisis invites deep reflection by all of us about the principles and people we hold dear. You, our Pauli Murray Center family, are people we hold dear and we appreciate all that you are doing to survive and support your families and communities.
We find Pauli Murray’s guiding principles—justice, equity, creativity, and faith—instrumental to the ways we are understanding and coping with the impact of the pandemic. In particular, we can draw inspiration from Pauli’s story, especially from a time when she was forced to leave Hunter College because of the Great Depression. She was living in a crisis epicenter, New York City, at a time when, like now, people of color were disproportionately affected and were experiencing huge job loss, hunger, homelessness, and discrimination.
Pauli’s resourcefulness and versatility enabled her to weather this tough time. Pauli and her friend, artist Louise E. Jefferson , found lodging in a rooming house and negotiated for bathroom and kitchen time. Supporting one another, they pooled their resources. Pauli’s salary covered their rent while Louise’s earnings paid for food and entertainment. When they were a little flush they enjoyed a meal out or a show from the balcony of the Apollo Theater.
Pauli learned discipline from watching the meticulous approach Louise took toward her freelance design work for the YWCA and the National Urban League. She also learned a great deal about white supremacy and sexism by witnessing the inequitable impact of this national economic crisis on the health and wellbeing of people around her. These are lessons and insights we can benefit from today.
The well of resilience Pauli drew from is the same well we invite each of you to explore. We look forward to a time when we can welcome more of you to Pauli’s childhood home while remaining cognizant of the suffering in the present moment. The new educational lawn installation is ideal for the 6’ social distancing requirements. We also have some online resources—the Pauli Murray: Imp, Crusader, Dude, Priest exhibit and exhibit curriculum — to help you connect with Pauli Murray’s story and vision on your own.
We are listening for the lessons of this time and learning more about the social justice and human rights impact of the pandemic. We hope that, soon, we will be able to gather to share our insights with one another and build stronger, more equitable communities in person together.