At a time when racial separation was the norm and gender roles and identities were narrowly defined and accepted, Eleanor Roosevelt and Pauli Murray formed a long-lasting friendship that transcended societal limitations.

Both women served as steadfast allies to marginalized communities. Murray notably coined the term “Jane Crow” to highlight the specific discrimination faced by Black women, which laid the groundwork for her essential arguments in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education. Her insights extended beyond race to encompass her complex struggles with gender identity. Throughout her life, Murray grappled with her sense of self, often feeling as though she did not fully conform to societal expectations of womanhood. This struggle included feelings of not entirely identifying as a woman, which highlighted the challenging intersections of race and gender in a society that suppressed both.