This luminous film examines the legacy of Pauli Murray. A lawyer, activist, poet, and priest, Murray’s life was dedicated to effecting change in America, especially around issues of race and gender equity. The experience of growing up Black in the segregated South—having moved to Durham, North Carolina, as a child—shaped Murray’s resolve to question and challenge cultural norms. Determined to put ideas to paper, Murray left a vast archive, from letters to legal arguments to published books. Here, as prose comes to life as text on screen, Murray recounts the events that influenced a transformative career. Family members and scholars discuss Murray’s vast accomplishments and lasting imprint, while archival film clips, photographs, and writing reveal the thinking of this brave and brilliant individual. Powerfully, directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen make space to consider Murray not only as a trailblazing leader but as a person, offering a nuanced examination of Murray’s gender identity and private life.  ST

Filmmaker Q&A available

Closed Captioning available

This film is only available to viewers in the United States