Person · 1924–2005
Shirley Chisholm
The first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to seek a major party's presidential nomination.
A trailblazer of [[black-leadership]].
"Unbought and unbossed," Shirley Chisholm represented Brooklyn in Congress and ran for president in 1972, opening the door for those who followed.
On the timeline
- November 5, 1968Shirley Chisholm Elected to Congress, First Black Woman in House
Brooklyn Democrat Shirley Chisholm defeated Republican James Farmer to become the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, representing New York's 12th congressional district. Her campaign slogan was 'Unbought and Unbossed.'
- January 25, 1972Shirley Chisholm runs for President
On January 25, 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black American and the first woman to seek the presidential nomination of a major political party, competing in twelve state primaries and winning 152 delegate votes. Her campaign shattered two barriers simultaneously and proved that Black women could contest the highest office in the land, inspiring Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's later campaigns.