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.
