Shirley Chisholm made history in 1968 when she became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, representing New York’s 12th Congressional District. Her election broke a major political barrier and marked the beginning of a congressional career focused on racial equality, women’s rights and improving the lives of low-income Americans.
Shirley Anita St. Hill was born on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the eldest of four daughters born to immigrant parents. Her father, Charles St. Hill, came from British Guiana, now Guyana, while her mother, Ruby Seale, was from Barbados.
During her childhood, Shirley spent several years in Barbados, where she lived with her maternal grandmother while her parents worked in New York. She later returned to Brooklyn and continued her education in the United States.
Chisholm attended Brooklyn College, where she graduated with a degree in sociology in 1946. She later earned a master’s degree in childhood education from Columbia University’s Teachers College in 1951.
After completing her education, she worked in early childhood education. She was a nursery school teacher and later directed childcare centres in New York. From 1959 to 1964, she also worked as an educational consultant for New York City’s Division of Day Care. Her experience in childcare and education gave her a close understanding of the difficulties facing working families and children from low-income communities.
Entering Politics
Chisholm became involved in politics during the 1950s, joining Democratic political groups in Brooklyn and supporting efforts to increase Black political representation. She eventually decided to seek public office herself.
In 1964, she was elected to the New York State Assembly, where she served until 1968. During her time there, she worked on issues affecting working-class families and disadvantaged students. She helped secure the extension of unemployment benefits to domestic workers and sponsored the SEEK programme at the City University of New York, which provided educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In 1968, Chisholm ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, representing New York’s 12th Congressional District in Brooklyn. Her campaign used the slogan “Unbought and Unbossed,” reflecting her determination to remain independent of political pressure. She defeated her Democratic primary opponents before going on to win the general election against Republican and Liberal Party candidate James Farmer.
Her victory made her the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. She took office on January 3, 1969, becoming the only woman in that year’s freshman class.
Her Fight for Equality in Congress
Chisholm entered Congress determined to address racial inequality, poverty, education and the difficulties facing women. Her first committee assignment was the House Agriculture Committee, a decision she challenged because she believed it had little relevance to the needs of her urban constituency. She was eventually reassigned to the Veterans Affairs Committee and later joined the Education and Labor Committee.
Despite the initial committee assignment, Chisholm found ways to use her position to help low-income families. She worked with Senator Bob Dole to expand the Food Stamp Program, making food assistance available to more people. She also played an important role in the development of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, which provides nutritional support to pregnant women, mothers and young children from low-income households.
Throughout her congressional career, Chisholm introduced more than 50 pieces of legislation. Her work covered education, employment, childcare, racial equality and women’s rights. She also opposed the Vietnam War and criticised the government’s spending priorities while many Americans struggled with poverty and inadequate public services.
In 1971, she became a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, an organisation established to represent the interests of Black Americans in Congress. That same year, she helped establish the National Women’s Political Caucus, which worked to increase women’s participation in political life.
Chisholm continued to gain influence within Congress. She served as assistant secretary of the House Democratic Caucus from 1975 to 1977 and became its secretary from 1977 to 1981. In 1977, she also joined the powerful House Rules Committee, becoming the first Black woman and the second woman ever to serve on it.
Her Historic Presidential Campaign
In 1972, Chisholm announced her candidacy for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Her campaign made history. She became the first Black person to seek the presidential nomination of a major American political party and the first woman to seek the Democratic Party’s nomination.
Chisholm entered the race to challenge the political system and draw attention to people she believed were being overlooked, including Black Americans, women and people living in poverty. Her campaign faced serious obstacles. She struggled to raise enough money and encountered opposition from political figures who did not believe a Black woman could become president.
Despite these difficulties, she continued campaigning across the country. At the 1972 Democratic National Convention, she received 152 votes on the first ballot, finishing fourth. Although she did not win the nomination, her campaign broke important barriers for women and Black Americans seeking the country’s highest political office.
Later Life and Legacy
Chisholm retired from Congress in January 1983 after serving seven terms. She continued working in education, teaching at Mount Holyoke College, where she held the Purington Chair in Politics and Women’s Studies until 1987. She also taught at Spelman College and remained active in political affairs. In 1984, she helped establish the National Political Congress of Black Women and later supported Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton nominated her to serve as the United States ambassador to Jamaica. However, she withdrew from consideration because of health problems.
Shirley Chisholm died on January 1, 2005, in Ormond Beach, Florida, at the age of 80. Her contributions to American politics and public life continued to receive recognition after her death. In 2015, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. In 2024, Congress also awarded her the Congressional Gold Medal.
Her career changed the possibilities for Black women in American politics. Through her work in Congress and her presidential campaign, Chisholm challenged political barriers and pushed for greater representation of people who had long been excluded from positions of power.
Sources:
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/shirley-chisholm
https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/C/CHISHOLM,-Shirley-Anita-(C000371)/
https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/individuals/shirley-chisholm
