Life of a Saint

Life of a Saint

“Give me a song of hope, and a world where I can sing it.” – Pauli Murray

Independent thinker

Daughter of an educator and a nurse

Granddaughter of a slave

Raised to be proud of her identity --

Orphened at three.

Whisperings of lynchings

            The KKK

                     Segregation

Tempered by teachers from Wilberforce and Howard

Proud shoes led to a law degree

But not from UNC

(Because of her race)

Or from Harvard

(because of her gender)

But from Howard University   

                First in her class

                          Accolades from Ginsberg and Kennedy

From academia to seminary

Ordained as the first black priest

At the Chapel of the Cross
Her grandmother was baptized there

Following in the footsteps of Jesus,

Advocating human rights of all.

Pauli was ordained a saint in the Episcopal Church on July 1, 2012 because of her tireless work as a lawyer and advocate for civil and labor rights.