Shirley Chisholm: A Trailblazing Politician
Shirley Chisholm was a pioneering politician who broke barriers and paved the way for others. She was the first Black congresswoman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first Black candidate to seek a major party's nomination in 1972.
Early Life and Career
Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924. She studied early childhood education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and taught nursery school before supervising 10 daycare centers in New York City.
In 1964, Chisholm won the NY State Assembly seat. Four years later, in 1968, she became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress without the support of party leadership. She represented New York's 12th congressional district for seven terms from 1969 to 1983.
Congressional Career
Throughout her 14-year tenure in Congress, Chisholm played a pivotal role in increasing social services, extending the reach of the food stamp program, and helping establish the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). She also chaired the conference committee for a bill to universalize childcare, but Nixon vetoed it.
Presidential Campaign
In 1972, Chisholm made history again when she joined the race for president of the United States. She formally announced her presidential bid on January 25, 1972, in a Baptist church in Brooklyn.
“My presence before you now symbolizes a new era in American political history,” she declared in her announcement speech. “I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women’s movement of this country, although I am a woman, and I’m equally proud of that.”
Although Chisholm did not have enough delegates at the Democratic National Convention, she became an influential figure for Black women in politics. Kamala Harris, the first female, first Black, and first Asian-American Vice President, credited Chisholm with paving the way for her career.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from Congress in 1983, Chisholm took a teaching position at Mount Holyoke College. She taught Congress as a Complex Organization, The Social Roles of Women, Urban Sociology, and The Black Woman in America.
Chisholm passed away on January 1, 2005, at the age of 80. Eleven years later, Chisholm was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Film, 'Shirley'
The inspirational biopic Shirley is now streaming on Netflix. The film stars Oscar-winning actress Regina King as Shirley Chisholm. Shirley explores Chisholm's historic presidential run and her impact on African American politics. The film also examines Chisholm's relationship with Alabama's segregationist governor George Wallace, her association with the Black Panther Party, and the tension with her sister Muriel St. Hill.
Quotes from the Film
“I realized one, Regina and I’ve never played in something together,” Reina, who co-produced the film with her sister, told NBC News. “As important as this project has been to both of us, it was special for us to come together and work as actresses.”
“You learned about Malcolm X, and you learned about Martin Luther King in U.S. history classes, but not this great, powerful woman,” she explained. “Why aren’t students being told about that? When I would mention Shirley’s name, no one seemed to know who she was, and [that] lit a fire under us even more. We were like, ‘The world should know, the country should know, women should know, people should know, kids should know.’"
Conclusion
Shirley Chisholm was a remarkable woman who broke barriers and made history. She was an inspiration to many and her legacy continues to inspire people today.
