The first African American woman to become a prominent civil rights lawyer was Pauli Murray. She co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) and played a key role in advocating for racial and gender equality. Murray's legal work, including her contributions to the Brown v. Board of Education case, helped dismantle segregation in schools. Her groundbreaking advocacy laid the groundwork for future lawsuits addressing issues of discrimination and civil rights, establishing her as a vital figure in American legal history.