1968- Shirley Chisholm

laperry2_1 — 2025-06-13 22:28:58 UTC

In 1968, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, and she didn’t take that responsibility lightly. Coming from a working class family in Brooklyn, she brought firsthand knowledge of the struggles faced by everyday people and turned that into action in Washington. She fought hard for racial and gender equality, better access to education, and healthcare as a human right. Chisholm once said, “We have never seen health as a right… it has been conceived as a privilege available only to those who can afford it” (PBS). Her independence was legendary. Her campaign slogan, “Unbought and Unbossed,” said it all. She didn’t just break barriers; she cleared a path for others to follow, especially for women and marginalized communities who had long been excluded from political power. Her courage still inspires.

Sources:

PBS. “Shirley Chisholm: Unbought and Unbossed.” American Experience. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/chisholm-unbought-and-unbossed/
National Women’s History Museum. “Shirley Chisholm.” https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/shirley-chisholm

1968- Shirley Chisholm by Laila Perry

1968- Shirley Chisholm