- Née:
- Shirley Anita St. Hill
- Died:
- January 1, 2005, Ormond Beach, Florida (aged 80)
- Title / Office:
- House of Representatives (1969-1983), United States
- Founder:
- National Women’s Political Caucus
- Political Affiliation:
- Democratic Party
- Awards And Honors:
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2015)
Shirley Chisholm
-
Who was Shirley Chisholm?
Shirley Chisholm was a groundbreaking American politician and activist. She made history as the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983. In 1972, she further broke barriers by becoming the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Chisholm was known for her "Unbought and Unbossed" slogan and her advocacy for liberal causes, including opposition to the Vietnam War and support for full-employment proposals. She was also a founder of the National Women's Political Caucus and a supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.
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What important 'first' did Shirley Chisholm achieve in American politics?
Shirley Chisholm achieved several significant political firsts. She was the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968, serving in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983. In 1972, she made history again by becoming the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Chisholm was also a founder of the National Women's Political Caucus and a strong advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment. Her candidacies and advocacy paved the way for future women in politics.
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Which state and district did Shirley Chisholm represent in Congress?
Shirley Chisholm represented New York's 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983. She was the first African American woman elected to Congress. Prior to her national service, she served in the New York state legislature from 1964 to 1968, representing her Brooklyn district.
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What was significant about Shirley Chisholm's campaign for president in 1972?
Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign was significant because she was the first African American woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. She ran with the slogan "Unbought and Unbossed" and aimed to represent the needs of voters who were often overlooked. Although she withdrew from the race, she secured 152 delegates, paving the way for future women and minority candidates in American politics. Her candidacy broke barriers and challenged the status quo in a significant way.
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What issues did Shirley Chisholm focus on during her political career?
Shirley Chisholm focused on issues such as opposing weapons development and the war in Vietnam. She also advocated for full-employment proposals and was a proponent of the Equal Rights Amendment and legalized abortions. Chisholm was known for her public criticism of Washington politicians who did not represent the needs of their constituents. She was the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
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How has Shirley Chisholm influenced politics and activism in the United States?
Shirley Chisholm significantly influenced American politics and activism. She made history as the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, serving from 1969 to 1983. In 1972, she became the first woman to seek the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Chisholm was a vocal advocate for liberal causes, opposing weapons development and the war in Vietnam, while championing full-employment proposals. She was a founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus and supported the Equal Rights Amendment and legalized abortions. Her slogan, "Unbought and Unbossed," reflected her commitment to representing the needs of voters, particularly women and minorities.
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Shirley Chisholm (born November 30, 1924, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.—died January 1, 2005, Ormond Beach, Florida) made history as the first African American woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983. In 1972 Chisholm also became the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
Early life
Shirley St. Hill was the daughter of immigrants; her father was from British Guiana (now Guyana) and her mother from Barbados. She grew up in Barbados and in her native Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Brooklyn College (B.A., 1946), where she became known for her skills as a debater. While teaching nursery school and serving as director of the Friends Day Nursery in Brooklyn, she studied elementary education at Columbia University (M.A., 1951) and married Conrad Q. Chisholm in 1949. (The couple divorced in 1977, and later that year she married Arthur Hardwick, Jr.)
As director of New York City’s Hamilton-Madison Child Care Center from 1953 to 1959, Chisholm became a recognized expert on early education and child welfare. She later served as an education consultant (1959–64) for the city’s day-care division. During this time Chisholm was also active with community and political groups, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and her district’s Unity Democratic Club. In 1964–68 she represented her Brooklyn district in the New York state legislature.
House of Representatives and 1972 presidential campaign
In 1968 Chisholm ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, adopting the slogan “Fighting Shirley Chisholm—Unbought and Unbossed.” She traveled throughout New York’s 12th Congressional District, speaking directly to voters, especially women. In the general election, Chisholm defeated the heavily favored James Farmer, a civil rights leader.
After taking office in 1969, Chisholm quickly became known as a strong liberal who opposed weapons development and the war in Vietnam and favored full-employment proposals. She also was noted for her public criticism of Washington, especially the politicians who refused to represent the needs of voters. As a candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. president in 1972, she won 152 delegates before withdrawing from the race.
Chisholm, a founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus, supported the Equal Rights Amendment and legalized abortions throughout her congressional career, which lasted from 1969 to 1983. She wrote the autobiographical works Unbought and Unbossed (1970) and The Good Fight (1973).
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Later activities
After her retirement from Congress, Chisholm remained active on the lecture circuit. She held the position of Purington Professor at Mount Holyoke College (1983–87) and was a visiting scholar at Spelman College (1985). In 1993 she was invited by Pres. Bill Clinton to serve as ambassador to Jamaica but declined because of poor health. When discussing her legacy, Chisholm said, “I’d like them to say that Shirley Chisholm had guts. That’s how I’d like to be remembered.” She died in 2005 after suffering a series of strokes.
Chisholm was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.