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"If they don't give you a seat at the table? Bring a folding chair." - Shirley Chisholm


 When we talk about Black women in politics, we have to start with one of the best. Ms. Shriley Chisholm. In history, we overlook the impact that she had. A black woman from Brooklyn changed history forever. She has had a handful of firsts. She was the first black woman to be in Congress. This opened doors for other black women in the future. In 1972, she was the first woman to run for president, but she was also the first person of color. Many people counted her out, but her campaign wasn't unsuccessful. Shirley Chisholm's Legacy states, "Chisholm’s historic campaign for the presidency—she was the first person of color to run, and a woman at that—was largely overlooked at the time by the press and the political establishment, a fact that often raised the ire of Chisholm’s supporters." (Paragraph 3)

 

She had fought to be included during the election debate. The media tried to count her out, but her support overshadowed them. Her votes included all women of different races. As a feminist, she helped create the National Organization for Women. This group helped pass the law to stop discrimination toward education funding. Many people need to understand how important she was or they never have the opportunity to learn about her. Women like Stacey Abrahams, Letitia James, and Carol Braun are seen as reflections of Shirley. These women decided to break the barrier and run for office. Whether it had been for governor, councilmen, or even president. There have been more black women running for office, but they are still facing similar obstacles Shirley faced, such as sexism, and sometimes racism. Shirley was a woman that wanted equal rights for everyone, and I'm hoping America can fully achieve that one day. 


Citation:

Molloy, Aimee. “Shirley Chisholm’s Legacy.” The Brooklyn Rail, 16 Nov. 2007, https://brooklynrail.org/2005/02/express/shirley-chisholms-legacy.

Comments

  1. Carson GrahamMarch 7, 2023 at 7:00 AM

    Shirley Chisholm is an often underlooked political figure. For centuries, civil rights for all marginalized groups have often been on the backs of women of color. Her fight to not only be on the ballot, but to actually campaign is remarkable. At this point in time, there were still struggles to vote, let alone be *on* the ballot, let alone run an entire Presidential campaign. Her legacy should be taught in schools, as I never learned about her until I started college. She is an inspiration to all women and people of color when it comes to shattering that glass ceiling

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