In celebration of Black History Month the U.S. Mint has announced that Dr. Pauli Murray who was a non-binary Black lawyer, civil rights activist, poet & priest will appear on the 2024 American Women Quarters Program. Fifteen years before Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat, Pauli fought for social justice & was influential to both Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Thurgood Marshall. There’s a fabulous documentary on Prime Video entitled “My Name Is Pauli Murray” that you should check out if you haven’t already. Dr. David J. Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition stated, “The announcement by the U.S. Mint that it will include civil rights activist Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, the first Black queer person to be featured on U.S. currency deserves celebration. This moment is a reminder that wherever there is history there is Black history & that Black history has always included the contributions of Black queer, trans & non-binary/non-conforming members of our beautifully diverse community. Commemorating the life & legacy of Murray, who was a groundbreaking leader of racial & gender equality & progenitor of effective civil rights tactics & was also one of the first women, first gender nonbinary person & the first Black woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest, is an important step toward recognizing the contributions that Black LGBTQ+/same-gender loving people have made to American history. Especially at a time when the evangelical right is using religion to separate, segregate & inspire hate. We commend the U.S. Mint for honoring Pauli Murray, amongst a number of influential and groundbreaking women. The lives, contributions & stories of Black trans, queer & non-binary/non-conforming people are fundamental to Black history & should continue to be told & celebrated.”
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