Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm (Shirley Anita St. Hill) was born on November 30th, 1924. Shirley passed away January 1st, 2005 at 80 years old. Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Chisholm attended Brooklyn College where she received a Bachelor's degree on sociology and Columbia University where she received a Master's degree in childhood education.

Shirley Chisholm was an American politician who became the first black woman to get elected to US Congress in 1968. She represented New York’s 12th congressional district, which is centered in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn for 7 terms from 1969 until 1983.

In 1972, she became the first black candidate for a major party nomination for President of the United States, and the first woman to ever run for the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Throughout her career, she was well known for taking a resolute stand against injustices be they political, social, or economic. She was also a strong supporter of women’s rights and black civil rights.

Shirley got involved in local Democratic Party politics during the 1950s. This was when she joined Wesley “Mac” Holder’s efforts to elect Lewis Flagg Jr. to the bench as the first black judge in Brooklyn.

From 1959 until 1964 she was an educational consultant for the Division of Day Care in New York City’s Bureau of Child Welfare. She was in charge of supervising 10 day care centers as well as starting new ones up. She became an authority on child welfare issues and early education.

In 1964, she overcame some resistance due to the fact that she was a woman, and got elected to the New York State Assembly. After getting elected to Congress, she led the expansion of nutrition and food programs and poor and rose to party leadership.

After retiring from Congress in 1983, she taught at Mount Holyoke College as she continued her political organizing.

She was posthumously given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

Shirley Chisholm in Her Own Words: Speeches and Writings reveals some new dimensions of the congresswoman’s spirit, politics, and activism.

Looking beyond just her political symbolism in order to celebrate not just who Shirley was but also who she is, a revolutionary thinker with so much to teach us today.

In the midst of her groundbreaking 20 year career in the US House of Representatives, Shirley provides readers with the rare shot to engage with her powerful ideas in her own voice.

Many Americans are familiar with Shirley’s importance as the first Black woman in Congress and the first African American and woman to run for president with either major party’s backing. Here is a long overdue treatment of her work that establishes her as an unparalleled public intellectual and black feminist both during her time and now. This book not only contextualizes the Black Power and Civil Rights era; also it provides timeless insights on issues which are exceedingly relevant during our current moment. This introduces a new generation to one of the most impactful proponents of democracy in all of America.

Shirley Chisholm: Awards & Accolades

Chisholm's book, Unbought and Unbossed was nominated for the Coretta Scott King Awards, Coretta Scott King Book Awards, in 1971.

Related Authors

Fans of Shirley Chisholm also enjoy these authors:

1. Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
2. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
3. Charles Dickens, author of: A Christmas Carol.
4. John Sandford, author of the Prey/Lucas Davenport Series.
5. James Patterson, author of the Alex Cross Series.

Shirley Chisholm: F.A.Q