Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Anita Chisholm (1924-2005) was an American political figure who served in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983, representing New York. She was the first African-American woman to serve as a congressman in the United States. Chisholm was a member of the Democratic Party. She unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for presidency in 1972.

Early life and career

Shirley Chisholm was born in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York. She obtained her bachelor's degree at Brooklyn College and master's degree at Columbia University. She taught at a nursery school and later became the director of Hamilton-Madison Child Care Center in New York City. During her career in education she advocated for decentralization of policies on schools. She served in the New York state legislature from 1964 until her election to the U.S. Congress in 1968.

Congressional career

Chisholm was elected to Congress in 1968 as a Democrat, and was re-elected six times. In Congress, she focused on issues such as poverty, civil rights, and women's rights. She was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. In 1970, she authored a child care bill, which passed the House and the Senate, but was vetoed by President Richard Nixon.

Sources

• Congressional Biographical Directory
• FamilyEducation
• DemocracyNow
• Associated Content biography
• NOW Honors Guts and Glory of Shirley Chisholm
• Department of State
• African-Americans