Pauli Murray Gets State Historic Marker

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Credit Jeanette Stokes

Pauli Murray marker sits at Carroll and West Chapel Hill Streets in Durham.

An official state historic marker now sits in the West-End neighborhood of Durham celebrating the life of human rights leader Pauli Murray.

When the strings were pulled – removing the marker’s black covering – there were cheers.  And there were tears.  The Pauli Murray historic marker sits at the corner of Carroll and West Chapel Hill Streets.  Karen Watson Ross is Murray’s great niece.  She attended the marker dedication with other family members, wearing matching T-shirts that read “Proud Shoes.”  That’s the name of Murray’s first book.

Karen Watson Ross:  "You know it’s been almost 30 years since she’s died.  And nobody has given her the real recognition she has deserves.   She has been the first at so many things, trailblazer."

Murray was the first African American woman ordained as an Episcopal priest – and the first woman to graduate from Howard University’s Law School.