Shirley Chisholm was an American educator and Democratic politician who became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968. She represented New York for seven terms, co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus, and ran for president in 1972.
Who Was Shirley Chisholm?
Shirley Chisholm was an American politician, educator, and author who represented New York’s 12th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983. Her career included 5 roles. Examples include educator, state assemblywoman, congresswoman, author, and presidential candidate.
What Are the Key Facts About Shirley Chisholm?
The table below lists 10 biographical facts about Shirley Chisholm. The left column names each attribute. The right column gives its value, based on records from the U.S. House of Representatives, History, Art & Archives.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Shirley Anita St. Hill |
| Date of birth | November 30, 1924 |
| Place of birth | Brooklyn, New York |
| Date of death | January 1, 2005 |
| Place of death | Ormond Beach, Florida |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Office held | U.S. Representative, New York’s 12th district |
| Years in Congress | 1969 to 1983 |
| Terms served | 7 |
| Campaign slogan | Unbought and Unbossed |
What Are the 5 Main Milestones in Shirley Chisholm’s Life?
Shirley Chisholm’s life includes 5 main milestones between 1924 and 2015. They cover her birth, her state and federal elections, her presidential campaign, and a posthumous national honor.
- 1924: Birth in Brooklyn
- 1964: Election to the New York State Assembly
- 1968: Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
- 1972: Presidential campaign
- 2015: Presidential Medal of Freedom
Where Did Shirley Chisholm Grow Up and Study?
Shirley Chisholm grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and earned two degrees in education-related fields. She received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Brooklyn College in 1946. She received a master’s degree in elementary education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1952.
Her parents were immigrants. Her father, Charles St. Hill, came from Guyana and worked in a factory. Her mother, Ruby Seale St. Hill, came from Barbados and worked as a seamstress. Chisholm spent part of her early childhood with her grandmother in Barbados, where she attended primary school.
What Did Shirley Chisholm Do Before Entering Congress?
Shirley Chisholm worked in early childhood education and served in the New York State Assembly from 1965 to 1968. She taught nursery school and directed the Hamilton-Madison Child Care Center. She later worked as an education consultant for the New York City Division of Day Care.
How Did Shirley Chisholm Become the First Black Woman in Congress?
Shirley Chisholm won the November 1968 election for New York’s 12th district and took office on January 3, 1969. She defeated James Farmer, a civil rights leader who ran on the Republican and Liberal tickets.
Her first committee assignment was the Agriculture Committee. She objected because the assignment did not match the needs of her urban district. House leaders reassigned her to the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. She later served on the Education and Labor Committee and the Rules Committee.
What Laws and Causes Did Shirley Chisholm Support?
Shirley Chisholm supported nutrition programs, labor protections, education funding, and an end to the Vietnam War. According to the U.S. House of Representatives, History, Art & Archives, her main efforts included:
- Helped expand the food stamp program
- Helped establish the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Supported minimum wage coverage for domestic workers
- Opposed the Vietnam War
- Advocated for childcare and education funding
Which Organizations Did Shirley Chisholm Co-Found?
Shirley Chisholm co-founded 3 organizations between 1971 and 1984. Each organization focused on political representation for Black Americans, women, or both.
- Congressional Black Caucus (1971)
- National Women’s Political Caucus (1971)
- National Political Congress of Black Women (1984)
When Did Shirley Chisholm Run for President?
Shirley Chisholm announced her presidential campaign on January 25, 1972. She was the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s presidential nomination and the first woman to run for the Democratic nomination, according to the U.S. House of Representatives, History, Art & Archives.
She won about 152 delegate votes at the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach. Senator George McGovern became the party’s nominee. Her campaign slogan was Unbought and Unbossed, which also became the title of her 1970 autobiography.
What Did Shirley Chisholm Do After Leaving Congress?
Shirley Chisholm left Congress in January 1983 and taught at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She co-founded the National Political Congress of Black Women in 1984. She declined a 1993 nomination as U.S. ambassador to Jamaica because of poor health.
She died on January 1, 2005, in Ormond Beach, Florida, at age 80. She wrote 2 books: Unbought and Unbossed (1970) and The Good Fight (1973).
What Awards and Honors Did Shirley Chisholm Receive?
Shirley Chisholm received 3 major honors, including a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. President Barack Obama presented the medal on November 24, 2015. Her honors include:
- Induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame (1993)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2015)
- Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn (named in her honor)
People Also Ask
Why Is Shirley Chisholm Famous?
Shirley Chisholm is famous for becoming the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968 and for running for president in 1972.
What Was Shirley Chisholm’s Slogan?
Shirley Chisholm’s slogan was Unbought and Unbossed.
How Many Delegates Did Shirley Chisholm Win in 1972?
Shirley Chisholm won about 152 delegate votes at the 1972 Democratic National Convention.
When Did Shirley Chisholm Die?
Shirley Chisholm died on January 1, 2005, in Ormond Beach, Florida, at age 80.
Which Organizations Did Shirley Chisholm Help Found?
Shirley Chisholm helped found the Congressional Black Caucus, the National Women’s Political Caucus, and the National Political Congress of Black Women.
Who Was Shirley Chisholm in American Political History?
Shirley Chisholm was an American educator and congresswoman recognized for being the first Black woman elected to Congress. Her 1972 campaign made her the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s presidential nomination.
Later Democratic presidential nominees include Barack Obama in 2008, Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Kamala Harris in 2024. Obama was the first Black nominee of a major party. Clinton was the first woman nominated by a major party.
Sources
- U.S. House of Representatives, History, Art & Archives: Chisholm, Shirley Anita
- National Women’s Hall of Fame: Shirley Chisholm
- The White House, Office of the Press Secretary: Presidential Medal of Freedom announcement, 2015