Former U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-New York) was born on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, to Charles Christopher St. Hill and Ruby Seale (who later married Conrad O. Chisholm in 1949).
Chisholm’s biological father was from British Guinea and her mother was born in Barbados. Therefore, her parental heritage made Shirley Chisholm of Afro-Guyanese and Afro-Barbadian descent.
Chisholm grew up in a politically active and conscious family. Her father, St. Hill, was an avid supporter of Marcus Garvey and active in the local trade union movement. She was exposed to the movements for Barbados’ independence from Great Britain at an early age.
As a result of such exposure, she went on to a distinguished career of firsts in public service. In 1964, insults were frequent both from within and outside of her Brooklyn community while she was collecting signatures necessary to qualify for a run for a seat in the New York State Legislature.
One older Black man, for example, said to Chisholm when she asked him to sign her petition: “Young woman, what are you doing out here in this cold? Did you get your husband’s breakfast this morning? Did you straighten up your house? What are you doing running for office? This is something for men.”
However, instead of being discouraged by the sexism of his comment, it only propelled her to campaign for the seat even harder and win. Chisholm served and distinguished herself as the first Black woman in the New York State Assembly from 1965 to 1968.
In November 1968, less than six months after the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Chisolm made gender and racial history again when elected to Congress.
Her campaign trucks had moved through the streets of Brooklyn’s 12th Congressional District with blaring speakers announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is fighting Shirley Chisholm coming through.”
Chisholm, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), 54 years ago, on August 10, 1970, delivered a speech on the House floor urging support for the Equal Rights Amendment.
She again made history on January 25, 1972, when she announced her candidacy for the presidency of the United States. In doing so, she became the first Black woman to campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Making her historic announcement, Chisholm said: “I am not a candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not a candidate for the women’s movement of this country, although I am a woman and equally proud of that. I am a candidate of the people, and my presence before you symbolizes a new era in American political history.”
Chisholm did not secure the Democratic nomination for president. However, had she, the congresswoman would have run against President Richard M. Nixon, who was forced to resign in disgrace for criminal behavior 21 months later.
Fast forward to 52 years later.
Vice President Kamala Harris, a woman of Black and South Asian heritage, is officially the Democratic nominee to succeed President Joe Biden. She is running against a former president who has been criminally found guilty on 34 counts, impeached twice, found guilty of rape, and led an insurrection against the U.S. Government.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, America will choose between the former prosecutor and the current convicted felon.
Harris is building upon the legacy of the Chisholm and inspiring another generation of Black boys and girls to public service.