Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was the first African American woman in Congress (1968) and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties (1972). Her motto and title of her autobiography—Unbought and Unbossed—illustrates her outspoken advocacy for women and minorities during her seven terms in the United States House of Representatives. She was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 30, 1924, the oldest of four daughters to immigrant parents. When she graduated from Brooklyn College in 1942, her professors encouraged her to consider a political career, but she felt she had a “double handicap” of being both black and female. She worked as a nursery school teacher and earned a master’s degree from Columbia University in early childhood education. In 1964, she ran for and became the second African American in the New York State Legislature. In 1968, she sought and won a seat in Congress. Known as “Fighting Shirley,” she introduced more than 50 pieces of legislation and championed racial and gender equality, the plight of the poor, and ending the Vietnam War. She was co-founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971, and in 1977 she became the first black woman and second woman ever to serve on the powerful House Rules Committee. She faced discrimination in her quest for the 1972 Democratic Party presidential nomination. She was blocked from participating in televised primary debates, and was only allowed to make one speech after she took legal action. Chisholm retired from Congress in 1983.
