Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm (1924–2005) was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination. Explore her life, activism, legacy, and inspiring words.

Introduction

Shirley Anita Chisholm (née St. Hill) was a trailblazing American politician, educator, and advocate for social justice. Born on November 30, 1924, and passing away on January 1, 2005, she blazed new trails in U.S. politics: in 1968 she became the first Black woman elected to Congress, and in 1972 she became the first Black person and the first woman to seek a major party’s nomination for President.

Her motto, Unbought and Unbossed, captures her fierce independence and commitment to representing the marginalized.

Early Life and Family

Shirley Chisholm was born as Shirley Anita St. Hill on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents of Caribbean descent. Her father, Charles St. Hill, was from British Guiana (now Guyana), and worked in a factory and as a baker’s helper; her mother, Ruby Seale, was from Barbados and worked as a seamstress and domestic worker.

When Shirley was five, she and some of her siblings were sent to Barbados to live with her maternal grandmother Emaline Seale, and she spent several formative years there before returning to Brooklyn in her youth.

She attended Girls’ High School in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, distinguishing herself academically and in debate.

Chisholm was offered scholarships to Vassar and Oberlin, but chose to attend Brooklyn College so she could stay at home and manage expenses; she graduated in 1946 with a B.A. in sociology (and a minor in Spanish).

Early Career & Entry into Public Service

Before entering formal politics, Chisholm’s professional work focused on early childhood education and public welfare:

• From 1953 to 1954, she served as the director of the Friend in Need Nursery in Brooklyn.

• From 1954 to 1959, she was the director of the Hamilton-Madison Child Care Center in Manhattan, overseeing staff, programs, and operations.

• From 1959 to 1964, she worked as an educational consultant with New York City’s Bureau of Child Welfare, supervising day care centers and launching new programs.

Her civic and political engagement began locally: she joined various Democratic clubs, advocacy groups, and in particular became part of the Bedford–Stuyvesant Political League, pushing for fair housing, civil rights, and participation of marginalized voices.

In 1964, Chisholm ran for and won a seat in the New York State Assembly. Despite resistance because she was a woman, she managed to mobilize support through grassroots outreach and a message of inclusion.

Political Career & Achievements

Election to U.S. Congress (1968)

In 1968, Shirley Chisholm ran for Congress in New York’s 12th district (centered in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant area). Her campaign slogan “Unbought and Unbossed” underscored her independence from powerful political machines.

She faced both racial and gender barriers but ran a vigorous grassroots campaign, defeating her opponents in the Democratic primary and the general election.

With this victory, she became the first Black woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress, beginning her tenure on January 3, 1969.

Congressional Tenure

During her seven consecutive terms (1969–1983), Chisholm championed policies on behalf of underserved communities, women, minorities, and the poor.

Some of her key contributions include:

• She pushed to expand food and nutrition programs, including strengthening the food stamp program and advancing programs for mothers and children.

• She was also active on veterans’ affairs, land rights, and the extension of social services inside her district and nationally.

• In 1977, Chisholm became Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus (1977–1981), making her the first Black woman to serve in House leadership.

• She was one of the founders of the Congressional Black Caucus, a key institution for Black legislators to coordinate on policy and represent Black interests in Congress.

• As a freshman, she famously pushed Speaker of the House John McCormack to move her off the Agriculture Committee (which had little relevance to her urban district), threatening to “do her own thing” if not reassigned—a bold assertion of her agency.

1972 Presidential Campaign

On January 25, 1972, Chisholm formally announced her candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination—becoming the first Black person and first woman to attempt a major-party nomination in U.S. history.

In her announcement speech, she declared:

“I am not the candidate of Black America … I am not the candidate of the women’s movement … I am the candidate of the people of America.”

Although her campaign was longshot in many respects, it attracted symbolic importance and grassroots support. At the 1972 Democratic National Convention, she earned 152 delegates on the first ballot.

While she did not win the nomination (George McGovern became the Democratic nominee), Chisholm’s run broke barriers and inspired future generations.

Later Years in Congress & Retirement

Chisholm continued to serve in Congress until January 1983. After leaving, she shifted toward academia, public speech, and mentoring.

She held a professorship at Mount Holyoke College for approximately four years, where she taught on politics, social policy, and public speaking.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton nominated her to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, but she withdrew due to health concerns.

During her retirement, she continued to support political causes, spoke at colleges, campaigned for other candidates (including Jesse Jackson), and advocated for equality and representation.

Shirley Chisholm died on January 1, 2005, in Ormond Beach, Florida.

At her funeral in Buffalo, New York, her epitaph was inscribed “Unbought and Unbossed.”

Historical & Political Context

Shirley Chisholm’s career unfolded during a time of great social upheaval: the civil rights movement, the women’s liberation movement, urban poverty crisis, and the post-1960s political realignment.

Her race and gender placed her at the intersection of multiple barriers. She had to contend with entrenched political machines, skepticism from both Black male leaders and feminist groups, and structural exclusion from power in Congress and national politics.

Her decision to run for President in 1972 challenged both gender and racial norms; it came at a time when few women or African Americans had substantive representation in national party politics.

Through her legislative work, Chisholm engaged with issues of social welfare, education, food security, minority rights, and political inclusion in a period when many of these issues were marginalized in mainstream discourse.

Legacy and Influence

• Pioneer & Symbol: Shirley Chisholm is widely honored as a foundational figure in American political history—as the first Black woman in Congress and the first to seek major-party presidential nomination.

• Inspirational Role Model: Many African American women in politics cite her as an inspiration—for example, Kamala Harris has acknowledged Chisholm’s influence and even mirrored campaign typography.

• Institutional Impact: Her work with the Congressional Black Caucus and congressional leadership opened doors for more women and people of color in federal institutions.

• Cultural Memory & Honors:

  • In 2015, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.

  • In December 2024, Congress enacted the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act to award her this honor.

  • Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn (opened 2019) is named in her memory.

  • The Shirley Chisholm Project (formerly the Chisholm Center for Research) at Brooklyn College preserves her papers and promotes scholarship on women and politics.

  • A primary school in Barbados, formerly Vauxhall Primary, was renamed Shirley Chisholm Primary in 2023, honoring her Barbadian roots.

Chisholm’s legacy is not just symbolic: her insistence on political empowerment, intersectional identity, and grassroots inclusion continues to guide social justice movements and political strategists today.

Personality & Style

Shirley Chisholm was known for being bold, unapologetic, principled, and eloquent. She combined pragmatism with moral conviction, refusing to be silenced by opposition or dismissal.

Even as a quiet academic and educator initially, she cultivated a persuasive rhetorical style, and later as a politician she demonstrated tenacity, fearlessness in confronting power, and grounded connection to her constituents.

Her insistence on defining her own terms—“Unbought and Unbossed”—captured her dedication to independence, integrity, and service over political patronage.

Famous Quotes of Shirley Chisholm

Here are some notable quotes attributed to her that reflect her philosophy and approach:

• “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring your own folding chair.”

• “Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.”

• “I am not the candidate of Black America … I am not the candidate of the women’s movement … I am the candidate of the people of America.”

• “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”

• “Service is the rent that you pay for room on this earth.”

These lines crystallize her spirit of determination, inclusion, equality, and activism.

Lessons from Shirley Chisholm

1. Be unapologetically yourself
   She refused to fit into others’ expectations and insisted on defining her path on her own terms.

2. Break down barriers through actions
   Her entry into Congress and presidential campaign opened paths for others—often symbolic acts have generational consequences.

3. Representation matters
   She believed deeply in being present, vocal, and accountable for communities often ignored in politics.

4. Build power from the grassroots
   Her campaigns prioritized direct engagement, listening, and coalition-building in marginalized neighborhoods.

5. Persistence despite adversity
   Facing racism, sexism, institutional resistance, she persisted across decades in public life.

6. Intersectional approach
   Chisholm navigated the intersection of gender and race (and class), striving to advance all these dimensions simultaneously.

Conclusion

Shirley Chisholm’s life remains a beacon for those who believe that politics can be an instrument of equity, dignity, and inclusion. She broke historic ground, challenged norms, and insisted that the voices of the marginalized be heard—not as tokens, but with authority. Her legacy is felt not only in monuments and honors but in the countless women and people of color who stand on her shoulders.