SHIRLEY CHISHOLM: A GIANT FOR ALL TIME
Shirley Chisholm would have been 94 years old on November 30. I met her almost 40 years ago when I was lobbying Congress for disability rights on behalf of a large non-profit organization. She was a tiny woman, but her aura was more extensive than her office could contain. I was nervous as I walked into her office. After all, here I was, a young white woman in my 20's from Texas. Yet, she listened as I spoke about the need for legislation to improve the lives of those with disabilities. You knew you were in the presence of greatness as you sat across the desk from Representative Chisholm.
Chisholm was the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress in 1968. She was the daughter of immigrants. Chisholm's mother, a seamstress, was originally from Barbados, and her father was from Guyana. Even though Shirley was born in Brooklyn, her mother sent her to Barbados to live with Shirley's grandmother. Schools in Barbados were modeled after Great Britain's educational system. Chisholm's mother felt that the Great Britain model was superior to schools in Brooklyn. Chisholm returned to Brooklyn after high school, continued her education, and received a B.A. from Brooklyn College. She directed early childhood programs in Brooklyn while attending Colombia University, where she received a Master's Degree.
Representative Chisholm was a founder of the National Women's Political Caucus and a strong advocate for Equal Rights throughout her years in Congress. In 1972, Chisholm became the first woman and first African-American to run as a Democratic candidate for President. She won 152 delegates before withdrawing from the race. Chisholm retired from Congress in 1983 and became a Purington Professor at Mount Holyoke College. She eventually retired to Florida and died in 2005. Representative Chisholm received the Presidential Medal of Honor posthumously in 2015.
One can only imagine the strength of character and intelligence Chisholm possessed to achieve what she did despite the barriers that impeded her along the way. She passed 50 pieces of legislation during her time in Congress. In her book, Unbossed and Unbought, she wrote, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." Indeed.
Chisholm was the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress in 1968. She was the daughter of immigrants. Chisholm's mother, a seamstress, was originally from Barbados, and her father was from Guyana. Even though Shirley was born in Brooklyn, her mother sent her to Barbados to live with Shirley's grandmother. Schools in Barbados were modeled after Great Britain's educational system. Chisholm's mother felt that the Great Britain model was superior to schools in Brooklyn. Chisholm returned to Brooklyn after high school, continued her education, and received a B.A. from Brooklyn College. She directed early childhood programs in Brooklyn while attending Colombia University, where she received a Master's Degree.
Representative Chisholm was a founder of the National Women's Political Caucus and a strong advocate for Equal Rights throughout her years in Congress. In 1972, Chisholm became the first woman and first African-American to run as a Democratic candidate for President. She won 152 delegates before withdrawing from the race. Chisholm retired from Congress in 1983 and became a Purington Professor at Mount Holyoke College. She eventually retired to Florida and died in 2005. Representative Chisholm received the Presidential Medal of Honor posthumously in 2015.
One can only imagine the strength of character and intelligence Chisholm possessed to achieve what she did despite the barriers that impeded her along the way. She passed 50 pieces of legislation during her time in Congress. In her book, Unbossed and Unbought, she wrote, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." Indeed.
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