Shirley Chisholm: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:44, 29 December 2024

Shirley Anita Chisholm (November 30, 1924 – January 1, 2005) was an American politician, educator, and author. She was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement and became the first African-American woman elected to the United States Congress in 1968, representing New York's 12th congressional district.

Early Life and Education[edit]

Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York City, to immigrant parents from the Caribbean. She spent part of her childhood in Barbados, receiving a British education that she credited with giving her a strong academic foundation. Chisholm returned to the United States and attended Brooklyn College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1946. She later obtained a Master of Arts in elementary education from Columbia University.

Political Career[edit]

Chisholm began her political career in the New York State Assembly, serving from 1965 to 1968. In 1968, she made history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives. During her tenure, she was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Women's Political Caucus.

In 1972, Chisholm became the first African-American candidate for a major party's nomination for President of the United States, running as a Democrat. Her campaign slogan was "Unbought and Unbossed," reflecting her commitment to independent and progressive politics.

Legacy and Impact[edit]

Shirley Chisholm's legacy is marked by her pioneering efforts to break barriers for women and minorities in politics. She was a vocal advocate for education reform, women's rights, and social justice. Her autobiography, "Unbought and Unbossed," published in 1970, remains an influential work in American political literature.

Chisholm's contributions to American society have been recognized posthumously with numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Barack Obama in 2015.

References[edit]

Shirley,

 Unbought and Unbossed, 
  
 Houghton Mifflin, 
 1970, 
  
  
 ISBN 978-0-395-06813-9,

Shirley Chisholm(link). {{{website}}}. History.com.

External Links[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Shirley_Chisholm_NYWTS.jpg|thumb|Shirley_Chisholm_NYWTS]] [[file:CBCfoundingmembers.jpg|right|thumb|CBCfoundingmembers]] [[file:Shirley_Chisholm_presidential_campaign_poster.jpg|right|thumb|Shirley_Chisholm_presidential_campaign_poster]] [[file:Shirely_Chisholm_at_the_1984_DNC.jpg|thumb|Shirely_Chisholm_at_the_1984_DNC]] [[file:Ed_Towns,_Shirley_Chisholm,_Gwen_Towns.jpg|thumb|Ed_Towns,_Shirley_Chisholm,_Gwen_Towns]] [[file:Shirley_Chisholm's_niche_at_Birchwood_Mausoleum,_Forest_Lawn_Cemetery,_Buffalo,_New_York_-_20210120.jpg|thumb|Shirley_Chisholm's_niche_at_Birchwood_Mausoleum,_Forest_Lawn_Cemetery,_Buffalo,_New_York_-_20210120]] {{short description|American politician, educator, and author}}
-{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
+{{Infobox person
-{{Infobox officeholder
 | name = Shirley Chisholm
-| image = Shirley Chisholm 1972.jpg
+| image = Shirley_Chisholm.jpg
-| caption = Chisholm in 1972
+| caption = Shirley Chisholm in 1972
-| office = Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
+| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|11|30}}
-| term_start = January 3, 1969
+| birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]]
-| term_end = January 3, 1983
+| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|1|1|1924|11|30}}
-| predecessor = [[Edna F. Kelly]]
+| death_place = [[Ormond Beach]], [[Florida]], [[United States]]
-| successor = [[Major Owens]]
+| occupation = [[Politician]], [[Educator]], [[Author]]
-| constituency = [[New York's 12th congressional district]]
+| known_for = First African-American woman elected to the [[United States Congress]]
-| birth_name = Shirley Anita St. Hill
-| birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|11|30}}
-| birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
-| death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|1|1|1924|11|30}}
-| death_place = [[Ormond Beach]], [[Florida]], U.S.
-| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
-| spouse =
- * Conrad Chisholm (m. 1949; div. 1977)
- * Arthur Hardwick Jr. (m. 1978; died 1986)
-| education = [[Brooklyn College]] (BA)
-| profession = [[Politician]], [[educator]], [[author]]
 }}
-'''Shirley Anita Chisholm''' (née St. Hill; November 30, 1924 – January 1, 2005) was an American [[politician]], [[educator]], and [[author]]. She was a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and was the first African American woman elected to the [[United States Congress]]. She represented [[New York's 12th congressional district]] for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1972, she became the first African American candidate for a major party's nomination for [[President of the United States]] and the first woman to run for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s presidential nomination.
+'''Shirley Anita Chisholm''' (November 30, 1924 – January 1, 2005) was an American politician, educator, and author. She was a prominent figure in the [[Civil Rights Movement]] and became the first African-American woman elected to the [[United States Congress]] in 1968, representing [[New York's 12th congressional district]].
-== Early life and education ==
+== Early Life and Education ==
-Shirley Anita St. Hill was born on November 30, 1924, in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], to immigrant parents from the [[Caribbean]]. She spent part of her childhood in [[Barbados]] with her grandmother. Chisholm graduated from [[Brooklyn College]] in 1946 with a BA in [[sociology]]. She later earned a master's degree in [[elementary education]] from [[Columbia University]].
+Shirley Chisholm was born in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], to immigrant parents from the [[Caribbean]]. She spent part of her childhood in [[Barbados]], receiving a British education that she credited with giving her a strong academic foundation. Chisholm returned to the United States and attended [[Brooklyn College]], where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1946. She later obtained a Master of Arts in elementary education from [[Columbia University]].
-== Career ==
+== Political Career ==
-=== Early career ===
+Chisholm began her political career in the [[New York State Assembly]], serving from 1965 to 1968. In 1968, she made history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]]. During her tenure, she was a founding member of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]] and the [[National Women's Political Caucus]].
-Before entering politics, Chisholm worked as a teacher and later as a director of a childcare center. She was also an educational consultant for the [[New York City Division of Day Care]].
-=== Political career ===
+In 1972, Chisholm became the first African-American candidate for a major party's nomination for [[President of the United States]], running as a [[Democrat]]. Her campaign slogan was "Unbought and Unbossed," reflecting her commitment to independent and progressive politics.
-Chisholm began her political career in the [[New York State Assembly]], serving from 1965 to 1968. In 1968, she was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]], becoming the first African American woman to serve in Congress. During her tenure, she was a founding member of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]] and the [[National Women's Political Caucus]].
-In 1972, Chisholm made history by running for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s presidential nomination. Although she did not win, her candidacy was a significant milestone in American politics.
+== Legacy and Impact ==
+Shirley Chisholm's legacy is marked by her pioneering efforts to break barriers for women and minorities in politics. She was a vocal advocate for [[education reform]], [[women's rights]], and [[social justice]]. Her autobiography, "Unbought and Unbossed," published in 1970, remains an influential work in American political literature.
-== Later life and legacy ==
+Chisholm's contributions to American society have been recognized posthumously with numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President [[Barack Obama]] in 2015.
-After retiring from Congress in 1983, Chisholm continued to be active in politics and education. She taught at [[Mount Holyoke College]] and was a sought-after speaker on issues of social justice and equality. Chisholm passed away on January 1, 2005, in [[Ormond Beach]], [[Florida]].
-Chisholm's legacy lives on through numerous awards and honors, including the posthumous awarding of the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] in 2015.
+== See Also ==
+* [[Civil Rights Movement]]
-== Related pages ==
-* [[United States House of Representatives]]
-* [[Democratic Party (United States)]]
 * [[Congressional Black Caucus]]
 * [[National Women's Political Caucus]]
-* [[Brooklyn College]]
+* [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]
-* [[Columbia University]]
-== Categories ==
+== References ==
+* {{cite book |last=Chisholm |first=Shirley |title=Unbought and Unbossed |year=1970 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |isbn=978-0-395-06813-9}}
+* {{cite web |url=https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/shirley-chisholm |title=Shirley Chisholm |publisher=History.com |accessdate=October 10, 2023}}
+== External Links ==
+* [https://www.biography.com/political-figure/shirley-chisholm Shirley Chisholm Biography]
+* [https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/shirley-chisholm National Women's History Museum: Shirley Chisholm]
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Chisholm, Shirley}}
 [[Category:1924 births]]
 [[Category:2005 deaths]]
-[[Category:African-American members of the United States House of Representatives]]
+[[Category:African-American women in politics]]
-[[Category:Women in New York (state) politics]]
+[[Category:American educators]]
+[[Category:American women educators]]
 [[Category:Brooklyn College alumni]]
 [[Category:Columbia University alumni]]
 [[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives]]
-[[Category:People from Brooklyn]]
+[[Category:Politicians from Brooklyn]]
-[[Category:American educators]]
+[[Category:Women members of the United States House of Representatives]]
-[[Category:American women educators]]
-[[Category:American political writers]]
-[[Category:American women writers]]
-[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
-[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
-{{medicine-stub}}