MUSEUM, ALIBI BOOK EVENTS

Celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray — lawyer, writer and priest — is presented Oct. 9 at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum by Barbara Lau of Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice and by historian Anna Bergman. Readings of Murray’s poetry by Myla Jay. Special preview of new Murray related art. In person with masks required and streaming. Free event, donations welcome.

Murray became involved in the movement for organized labor and, with Ella Baker, set up banks in Harlem to keep money within Black communities. Murray was also a poet and in the course of her life published two memoirs “Proud Shoes” and “Song in a Weary Throat” In 1941 Murray and her friend Mac were jailed for refusing to give up their seats on a bus. Murray was friends with Bayard Rustin and helped to plan Journey of Reconciliation, a cross country bus trip to challenge segregated seating. Murray and Ella Baker wanted to go on the trip but were denied because of being women.

Pauli Murray attended Law School at Howard University and worked to organize protests against segregated seating in Washington DC cafes. At Howard, Murray coined the term “Jane Crow” to represent the discrimination she faced as a Black woman/After receiving her law degree Pauli Murray struggled to find employment. With her sister, Pauli Murray traveled across the country to California where she served as Deputy Attorney General.

The museum is at 734 Marin St. For more, visit vallejonavalmuseum.net.

On Oct. 14, at 7 p.m., Alibi Bookshop hosts “The Pink Lady: The Many Lives of Helen Gahagan Douglas” by Sally Denton. Douglas (1900-1980) was a successful actor and opera singer who became politically active in response to the desperation of migrants from the Dust Bowl during the Depression. She was elected to Congress in 1944 and served three terms. While in Congress Douglas was active in progressive causes such as labor, internationalism, and affordable housing. Alibi Bookshop is at 734 Marin St. For more, visit alibibookshop.com.