Forceful Book

Fellow Peace Corps Volunteer

A fellow Peace Corps Volunteer in Libya sent a YouTube to me recently. I had to laugh at its absurdities!

He was a volunteer in Libya. He is inviting me to send it to other people, so I’ll include you in the list!

I hope it will make you laugh too.

I would like to ask him how he used the “camel hand shadows”. Or did I misunderstand what he said?

He answered and said just “my hands.”

Latest Book

I just finished “Song in a Weary Throat” by Pauli Murray. It is long – 569 pages – and comprehensive. She called the book, “Memoir of an American Pilgrimage.”

But reading it was an instruction in how to overcome all obstacles. Pauli did not let anything deter her. When she encountered something on her path, she went around, over and under it. Nothing seemed to stop her.

I read in the introduction that she is coming back into favor now, having been dead for 37 years. I am amazed that no one had heard of her! She apparently went undetected in the years since her death. My friend saw a documentary about her just a few short weeks ago. She introduced us to her first book, “Proud Shoes.”

This is the second book which was completed after she died. Others helped her finish it and prepared it for publication.

Her first book recounts the story of her relatives, both living and dead. The second is much more comprehensive. I’ll just retell a few stories here.

The WPA and Segregation

Pauli began working for the WPA, the Works Progress Administration, in 1935. She was assigned to the Workers’ Education Project. She taught classes to people in many professions.

Since her work was primarily voluntary, she would be amazed to discover that they spent many extra hours working on lessons.

In 1938 she applied to the University of North Carolina but was rejected on the basis of race. Her cause was taken up by papers in the region. She was Sand tied to the stories.

During this controversy she wrote to President Roosevelt but also sent a copy of the letter to Mrs. Roosevelt. She was disappointed by the results, but admired Mrs. Roosevelt’s interest in the action.

She did not get in.

But later she learned that this effort was part of the ongoing work to end enforced segregation.

Odell Waller

She tried desperately to save Odell Waller. He was sentenced to die by electrocution. She overcame all manner of obstacles. But she failed.

She again addressed a  letter to Pres. Roosevelt and a copy to the First Lady. In response she got an angry letter from the First Lady, accusing her of ignoring the reality. And she got an invitation to meet! Over the years she became quite familiar with the First Lady.

Jim Crow in the Nation’s Capital

While she was at Howard University for Law she became involved with a group of students. Then the major issue was getting overcharged for hot chocolate. With others, she eventually carried out a campaign at the Little Palace Cafeteria. For two days the students held out. He closed early one day, and on the next weekday the picket line came back. Finally he had to accede to their demands and they were served.

Her stories reflect many other instances of her overcoming obstacles. She lived through the death of her nearest relatives in 1955 and 1956. In 1959 she became friends with Renee Barlow, another woman in the male-dominated legal profession. They proceeded gradually until Renee used the words from the Book of Common Prayer, which Pauli recognized. They found they were both Episcopalians.

Meeting Betty Friedan

In 1965 she met Betty Friedan. During their talks, they came to realize the need for a concerted effort for women’s rights. In two years, they had set up NOW. At first they attracted a few women, but before too many years, they had over 200,000 women.

Call to Ministry

In 1973 she embraced the call to the ministry, and spent her final years as an Episcopal priest. I recommend this book to you. It will help you uncover obstacles in your own path!