(Columbia, SC) – The Columbia Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and The Nick will present a complimentary screening of the acclaimed documentary My Name is Pauli Murray on Saturday, February 1 at 11:00 a.m. A panel discussion featuring local scholars and community leaders will follow the film.
Directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West, My Name is Pauli Murray offers an in-depth look at the life and work of Pauli Murray—an Episcopal priest, author, trailblazing lawyer, and activist, who also spent a year teaching at Benedict College. Murray’s legal arguments and visionary thinking profoundly influenced monumental civil rights cases, including those championed by Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Recognized as one of the founding voices behind NOW, Murray also wrote the paper that formed the backbone of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.
“You may not know the name, but you live in Pauli’s legacy,” note event organizers, underscoring the enduring importance of Murray’s work. Scholars featured in the film point to Murray’s innovative interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause as a precursor to critical advancements in gender and racial equality.
The documentary also delves into Murray’s identity as a non-binary Black luminary—an aspect of their life that historians such as Rosalind Rosenberg highlight as key to understanding Murray’s broad-reaching legal and social impact. Cohen has described Murray as an “unrecognized figure in so many areas,” emphasizing the filmmakers’ commitment to bringing Murray’s story to a wider audience.
In addition to its run at film festivals and a prior theatrical release, My Name is Pauli Murray is available for streaming on Prime Video. This special screening at The Nick is intended to shed further light on Pauli Murray’s continuing influence and encourage dialogue about the documentary’s themes of equity, justice, and personal identity.
About the Event
- What: Free screening of My Name is Pauli Murray, followed by a panel discussion
- When: Saturday, February 1, 11:00 a.m.
- Where: The Nick, 1607 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
- Admission: Free and open to the public
For more information about the screening, please visit The Nick’s website.
