There are some pieces of history that unfortunately fall through the cracks of time, but we can't let them go unnoticed. That's where we come in. In this series, you’re going to be learning about underrated people, movements, and places that need to be talked about more. Introducing: Your Mini Dose of Underrated History.
With our election right around the corner, I feel it's important to give you a mini history of Shirley Chisholm. Shirley was the first Black woman elected to Congress, and she was also the first Black woman to run for president of the United States. But Shirley wants you to remember her as a woman who had guts — and I'm about to tell you why.
Born in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, Shirley was a daughter of immigrants. Her father was from Guyana and worked as a baker's assistant, and her mother hailed from Barbados where she'd found work as a seamstress. Shirley went on to earn her master’s degree in elementary education from Columbia University and joined the NAACP and the League of Women Voters with goals of dismantling racial and gender inequality.
Known for being outspoken and direct, Shirley's Democratic Congressional debut was refreshing. In 1968, during her first year in Congress, she wasn't afraid to speak her mind and went so far as to say, "This country is ruled by a group of old men." Which, honestly? Still very relatable. (It also comes as no surprise that her nickname was Fighting Shirley.)
Shirley, in one word, was courageous. "I didn't come to Congress to behave myself and stay away from explosive issues," she said. We love a woman who isn't afraid to get messy. She was straightforward about her views, which included the systematic discrimination against Black people, while also fighting to end poverty and the Vietnam War.
When she announced her plans to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972, she made a powerful speech that's still referenced to this day. "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 am equally proud of that. I am the candidate of the people, and my presence before you now symbolizes a new era in American political history."
"Unbossed and Unbought" was Shirley's presidential campaign slogan. This not only captured what she stood for, but also captured her essence. Shirley worked for the people, unapologetically giving them a voice. Brutally honest and steadfast, Shirley did not back down, pushing for national healthcare and education reform. Eventually, after dealing with sexism and racism, she lost the race to George McGovern. Most white women and Black men said they'd support her, but ultimately went on to vote for McGovern. The ones who showed up for her the most were fellow Black women.
Although the Civil Rights Movement had "ended," Shirley knew Black folks and people of color did not magically find equality overnight. Even though Shirley retired from Congress in 1983, she continued to work to make the world better, co-founding the National Political Congress of Black Women. She also taught politics and sociology at Mount Holyoke College and continued to bless the country with phenomenal speeches.
Shirley Chisholm passed away in 2005, but she was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by Barack Obama, in 2015. During his speech, Obama poignantly recalled how Shirley wanted to be remembered, telling the world, "I'm proud to say Shirley Chisholm had guts."
Sources
Town and Country: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g32142861/shirley-chisholm-1972-presidential-campaign-photos/
National Museum of African American History and Culture: https://nmaahc.si.edu/shirley-chisholm-president
Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/08/01/shirley-chisholm-black-women-biden-vp/
History, Art, and Archives: https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/C/CHISHOLM,-Shirley-Anita-(C000371)/
Women's History: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/shirley-chisholm
Biography: https://www.biography.com/political-figure/shirley-chisholm
The Undefeated: https://theundefeated.com/features/shirley-chisholm-unbought-and-unbossed-presidential-campaign-poster-cover-stories/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz-dfJIprkY&t=2s&ab_channel=Timeline-WorldHistoryDocumentaries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8uv-uV3XwY&ab_channel=MSNBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnXU_9Y2h_0&ab_channel=TheRoot