Shirley Chisholm: Black Woman, US Congress, Presidential Candidate

Shirley Chisholm: The Fearless Trailblazer Who Dared to Dream

A Woman Ahead of Her Time

In the bustling streets of Brooklyn, New York, in 1968, history was quietly rewritten. Shirley Chisholm was a bold educator-turned-politician. She had a Trinidadian-Bajan heritage and a Brooklyn accent. She became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress.

But Chisholm was never one to settle for “firsts.” Her motto, “Unbought and Unbossed,” wasn’t just a slogan—it was a revolution. This is the story of how a daughter of immigrants reshaped democracy. She challenged the status quo. Her footprints are still visible in today’s fight for equality.

From Barbados to Brooklyn: Roots of Resilience

Shirley Anita St. Hill was born on 30 November 1924 in Brooklyn, but her story began far earlier. Her father, Charles St. Hill, worked in a burlap sack factory, while her mother, Ruby Seale, was a seamstress. Her parents struggled to make ends meet during the Great Depression. They sent Shirley and her sisters to live with their grandmother in Barbados. There, young Shirley attended a strict British-style school, where she learnt the power of discipline—and the sting of colonial inequality.

I am not the candidate for Black America, despite being Black and proud. Despite being a woman, I am not a contender for the women’s movement. I’m the people’s candidate.

Returning to Brooklyn at 10, she excelled in school, earning scholarships to Brooklyn College. She was advised to pursue teaching (a “suitable” career for a Black woman). Nonetheless, Chisholm embraced politics in student government. She debated fiercely against segregation. After graduating in 1946, she earned a master’s in childhood education from Columbia University. She later directed childcare centres and advocated for early education reforms.

Breaking Barriers in Politics: “Fighting Shirley” Takes Congress

Chisholm’s political journey began in the 1950s, organising for voting rights and fair housing. In 1964, she ran for New York’s state legislature. She won a seat by connecting with working-class Black, Latino, and white voters. Her grassroots style—knocking on doors, listening to mothers’ struggles—earned her a reputation as a fighter.

Then, in 1968, she set her sights on the U.S. Congress. Her campaign was unconventional. Rejecting corporate donations, she relied on small contributions and volunteers. “I am the people’s candidate,” she declared. Victory made her the first Black congresswoman, but Washington greeted her with cold shoulders. Assigned to the Forestry Committee—a clear snub—she demanded reassignment, landing on Education and Labour. There, she co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971. She championed bills for smallest wage increases, childcare funding, and immigrant rights.

1972: The Presidential Campaign That Changed Everything

In January 1972, Chisholm did the unthinkable: she announced her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. The move shocked the political world. “I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women’s movement, although I am a woman. I am the candidate of the people,” she proclaimed.

Her campaign faced steep odds. Many Black male leaders, fearing a split vote, backed her opponent George McGovern. The media dismissed her as a symbolic candidate. She was barred from televised debates and received death threats. Yet Chisholm persisted, visiting Southern states, speaking at prisons, and winning 152 delegates—a remarkable feat. Though she lost the nomination, her campaign shattered ceilings. For the first time, Black voters, women, and young people saw themselves in a presidential race.

Legacy Beyond Politics: Educator, Author, Icon

After retiring from Congress in 1983, Chisholm returned to education, teaching at Mount Holyoke College. She remained vocal. She co-founded the National Political Congress of Black Women in 1984. She also urged Jesse Jackson to run for president. Her memoir, Unbought and Unbossed (1970), became a manifesto for marginalised voices.

I want to be remembered as a woman who dared to be a catalyst for change.

Chisholm passed away on 1 January 2005 in Florida, leaving no children but a global family of activists. Her cause of death, natural ailments, belied her tireless spirit. In her final years, she reflected. She said, “I want to be remembered as a woman who dared to be a catalyst for change.”

How Shirley Chisholm Changed the World

Chisholm’s impact stretches far beyond legislation. She proved that race and gender need not limit ambition. Her 1972 run laid the groundwork for future leaders. Leaders like Barack Obama and Kamala Harris echoed her call to “bring your own chair” to the table.

In South Africa, her story resonates deeply. During apartheid, Chisholm publicly condemned the regime, linking the struggles of Black Americans and South Africans. Today, her name graces schools, parks, and scholarships worldwide, including New York’s Shirley Chisholm State Park.

Answering Your Questions About Shirley Chisholm

A Legacy Unbought, Unbossed, Unforgotten

Shirley Chisholm’s life reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear but the determination to act despite it. As South Africa continues its own journey toward equality, her story offers a timeless lesson. Change begins with those brave enough to speak truth to power. It includes those bold enough to make room for others.

“If there isn’t a seat for you at the table,” she once said, “bring your own folding chair.”