Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm

Hidden Heroes of History

Dorktales Podcast: Episode 106

A story of drive and determination! Shirley Chisholm, known as being a person for the people, was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress. From her childhood in Brooklyn and Barbados to standing up for fairness, education and equal rights, Shirley never backed down from a challenge. She boldly ran for President to continue her quest to make life better for everyone in America. Through hard work, trailblazing ideas and a voice that couldn’t be ignored, Shirley Chisholm changed people’s lives and proved that there will always be something worth fighting for.

Did You Know?

Shirley Chisholm was a remarkable leader and public servant who became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, and later ran for President.

Shirley Anita St. Hill was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924 to immigrant parents from Barbados. That’s an island nation in the Caribbean Sea.

Her dad, Charles, was a baker’s helper, and her mom, Ruby, was a seamstress and a domestic worker. Shirley was the oldest of four girls. By the time she was three years old, she was telling the neighborhood kids what to do, what games to play, what rules to follow. She was strong-willed and loved to talk.

Shirley’s parents worked very hard at their jobs and raising their family. But life in New York City at that time wasn’t easy. They were having a hard time giving their children everything they needed to have a good life. It was even hard to put enough food on the table. So, they had to make a tough decision. When Shirley was almost four, she and her sisters were sent to live with their grandmother on a farm in Barbados so their parents could save money while working back in New York City.

Leaving her parents was hard for Shirley at first, but living in Barbados turned out to be a wonderful experience. She worked on the farm, played on beautiful beaches, and went to a one-room schoolhouse where she got an excellent education. She studied reading, writing, math, history, and even needlework. And she learned so much from her grandmother on the farm. She learned to love her heritage. Shirley later said that her time in Barbados gave her a solid foundation for life. By the time she was ten years old, her parents were in a better place financially, so Shirley and her sisters moved back to Brooklyn. 

As a teen, Shirley went to one of the top high schools in New York City called Brooklyn Girls High School. She studied Latin, Greek, history, and science. Shirley was smart, but she also had drive and determination, qualities that served her well throughout her life.

After high school, Shirley went to Brooklyn College where she encouraged other girls to get involved in student government. Shirley believed that being smart wasn’t enough. You had to get involved in serving the larger community. You had to use your voice.

Shirley went on to get her Master’s Degree and become a teacher. She believed education was the key to changing lives. She taught in her community, worked as a school administrator, and even earned her master’s degree from Columbia University. But while a teacher is one of the most important jobs out there, she knew there was another way she could make a greater impact on her community of Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn. 

In 1964, Shirley ran for the New York State Assembly and won. She was an unstoppable force. She was only the second Black woman to ever hold that position. And she got there with 70% of the vote.

For the next four years, she got straight to work. She created programs that helped young people get into college, because she knew how much going to college led to her own success. She pushed for more funding for the schools in her area. And she helped domestic workers when they were out of work. A domestic worker is someone who works in another person’s home. Like a cleaner, a nanny, or a cook. They often go unnoticed when it comes to employment laws. 

Shirley’s mom was a domestic worker and because so many people, especially women, in Shirley’s neighborhood were domestic workers, she understood how vital they were to keep society going. So, she fought hard for their rights. She’d say, “We cannot build a strong society if we leave anyone behind. Education, opportunity, and dignity must be for everyone.”

Shirley really cared about the people around her. She always said she was a person for the people. And that’s why, in 1968, she ran for the United States Congress. The Congress is a group of people who decide on the laws of the United States, and no Black woman had ever been elected to Congress before. But Shirley didn’t let that stop her. 

To win their votes, Shirley went straight to the people. She talked with people in grocery stores, at their homes, and even drove through neighborhoods in her campaign truck shouting through a megaphone. She’d say, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Fighting Shirley Chisholm coming through!” Then she’d stop and talk to everyone she could. 

Her hard work paid off. The people voted for Shirley and she became the first Black woman ever elected to Congress. 

She continued to work hard when she got to Congress. She fought to make things better for women, children, and families. One of her biggest accomplishments was helping to create the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children—or WIC—to make sure families had enough food to eat. Shirley remembered what it was like for her parents to struggle to put food on the table. She felt that no child should go hungry in the United States.

Shirley also stood up against things like the Vietnam War and unfair discrimination. She always said she was “Unbought and Unbossed,” meaning she worked for the people, not for anyone else.

In January 1972, Shirley Chisholm made an announcement that would shake the country. She stood at the Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn and said, “I am running for president. I stand before you today, not as a Black candidate, not as a woman candidate, but as a candidate for all people.” On that day, she became the first Black woman in the history of the United States to run for President.

Running for President was challenging. Being a woman leader and especially a Black woman leader in America was difficult and rare. People like Shirley had to fight their way to the top and they received a lot of pushback. Others didn’t believe a woman should run for president. But she didn’t let it stop her from trying.

Unfortunately, Shirley didn’t make it through the first round of voting. She couldn’t raise enough money, and not enough people supported her. However, she did win 10% of the votes in the Democratic primary election, which was a huge achievement at that time in history. 

Despite the people who thought she couldn’t work in the NY State Legislature, become the first Black Congresswoman, or even run for president, Shirley still did all those things. And, she changed people’s lives in the process. Shirley Chisholm made an indelible mark on history for everyone in America, and paved the way for so many female leaders to come. Shirley proved that no matter what happens in the world, there will always be something worth fighting for.