Who was Shirley Chisholm? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Shirley Anita St. Hill

Died At Age: 80

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Arthur Hardwick (m. 1978), Conrad Q. Chisholm (m.1949), div.1977)

father: Charles Christopher St. Hill

mother: Ruby Seale

Political Leaders American Women

political ideology: Democratic

Died on: January 1, 2005

place of death: Ormond Beach, Florida, United States

Notable Alumni: Brooklyn College

Diseases & Disabilities: Strokes

Ancestry: Barbadian American, Guyanese American

City: Brooklyn, New York City

Ideology: Democrats

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: Columbia University, Brooklyn College

awards: 1975-Honorary Doctor of Laws degree

Recommended For You

1

What impact did Shirley Chisholm have on the political landscape?

Shirley Chisholm made history as the first African American woman elected to Congress, where she served for seven terms. She also ran for President in 1972, breaking barriers for women and people of color in politics.
2

What were Shirley Chisholm's key accomplishments during her time in Congress?

Shirley Chisholm was a strong advocate for civil rights, education, and women's rights. She co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Women's Political Caucus, and worked to improve social welfare programs.
3

How did Shirley Chisholm inspire future generations of women in politics?

Shirley Chisholm's groundbreaking campaigns and fearless advocacy paved the way for more diverse representation in politics. She inspired countless women, especially women of color, to pursue leadership roles and challenge the status quo.
4

What challenges did Shirley Chisholm face as a trailblazing figure in politics?

Shirley Chisholm faced discrimination and resistance from within her own party and society at large. She navigated racism and sexism with resilience, courage, and determination to make a lasting impact on American politics.
5

What was Shirley Chisholm's legacy in terms of promoting equality and social justice?

Shirley Chisholm's legacy is rooted in her commitment to equality and social justice. She fought for marginalized communities, challenged systemic injustices, and advocated for policies that uplifted the voices of the underrepresented.

Recommended Lists:

Childhood & Early Life

Shirley Chisholm, named Shirley Anita St. Hill at birth, was born to Charles Christopher St. Hill and Ruby Seale in Brooklyn, New York. Both her parents were immigrants. Her father was a factory worker from Guyana and her mother was a seamstress and a domestic worker.

When she was three years old, she was sent to her grandmother Ruby Seale in ‘Christ Church, Barbados’, so that she could receive a good education. There, she did her schooling in ‘Vauxhall Primary School’.

In 1934, she returned to her parents in New York and studied in ‘Girls’ High School’. After finishing her schooling, she did her BA from ‘Brooklyn College’.

Chisholm worked as a teacher in a Nursery school and also in a child-care centre. Simultaneously, she attended evening classes at ‘Columbia University’, pursuing an M.A. in elementary education, which she completed in 1952.

During this period, she became involved in various groups in college. She started to cultivate an interest in politics and began organizing and fund-raising.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

American Women Leaders

Women Political Leaders

American Political Leaders

American Female Political Leaders

Career

Chisholm was the director of ‘Hamilton-Madison Child Care Center’ from 1953 to 1959. She became associated with the Democratic Party at this time and spoke out against the minimal role of women, African-Americans and the poor in politics.

She worked as an educational consultant at the ‘New York City Division of Day Care’ from 1959 to 1964. During this time she joined the ‘Unity Democratic Club’ that worked for the equal rights for black people. She was removed from the board of directors for speaking against the white leaders.

In 1964, her political career truly began as she successfully contested for the ‘New York State Assembly’. Throughout the four years, she served in the assembly she promoted 50 bills, out of which 8 were passed.

In 1968, buoyed by her successful tenure in the assembly, Chisholm ran for the Congress as a ‘Democratic Candidate’ and defeated Republican candidate James Farmer. Her campaign slogan was “Unbought and Unbossed”.

During her term from 1968 to 1972, she was initially assigned to the ‘Agriculture Department’. She asked to be reassigned because she wanted to help the poor people of her district. She was then assigned to the ‘Veterans’ Affairs committee’ and later to the ‘Education and Labor Committee’.

In 1972, Chisholm ran for Democratic Party’s Presidential nomination to contest for presidency. Although she did not win, she managed to get 152 delegates and won the primaries in three states.

Throughout her term, she kept making substantial contributions. Most notably, she worked to pass a bill for minimum wages to domestic workers, worked to provide more opportunities for residents of poorer neighbourhoods spoke against the US military draft and opposed US’ involvement in the Vietnam War.

Chisholm retired from Congress in 1982 and resumed her teaching career, while being active in politics too.

From 1983 to 1987, she was named to the Purington Chair at ‘Mt. Holyoke College’ in Massachusetts, and also taught politics and women’s studies. In this period, she also campaigned for presidential candidate Jesse Jackson, was a visiting scholar at ‘Spelman College’ and co-founded the ‘National Political Congress of Black Women’.

Continue Reading Below

She moved to Florida in 1991 and two years later, she was nominated to serve as US ambassador to Jamaica, but declined the position because of her poor health.

Major Works

In 1971, Chisholm co-founded the ‘Congressional Black Caucus’, an organization consisting of African-American members of the Congress. It worked towards issues relevant to African-Americans and achieving their equality in the country.

Awards & Achievements

In 1993, Shirley Chisholm was inducted into the ‘National Women's Hall of Fame’, an American institution honouring outstanding contributions to the country in various fields.

Famous scholar and philosopher Molefi Kete Asante listed her as one of the ‘100 Greatest African Americans’.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1949, Chisholm married Conrad Chisholm, a private investigator who was also involved in local politics. The marriage lasted for about twenty-eight years before ending in divorce.

In 1978, she married a businessman, Arthur Hardwick, who died in 1986. At the age of eighty, she died in Florida, after suffering a series of strokes.

In college, she was influenced by Louis Warsoff, a blind political science professor who encouraged Chisholm to consider politics because of her “quick mind and debating skills”.

She died on January 1, 2005, in Ormond Beach near Daytona Beach, after suffering several strokes.

Facts About Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress in 1968, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of women in politics.

Chisholm was known for her bold and unapologetic approach to politics, often speaking out against discrimination and advocating for social justice issues.

In 1972, she made history again by becoming the first African American woman to seek the nomination for President of the United States from one of the two major political parties.

Chisholm was a champion for education and social welfare programs, using her platform to fight for equal rights and opportunities for all Americans.

Despite facing backlash and adversity throughout her career, Shirley Chisholm remained resilient and dedicated to her principles, leaving a lasting legacy as a trailblazer in American politics.

Shirley Chisholm Biography

You wanted to know

What impact did Shirley Chisholm have on the political landscape?

What were Shirley Chisholm's key accomplishments during her time in Congress?

How did Shirley Chisholm inspire future generations of women in politics?

What challenges did Shirley Chisholm face as a trailblazing figure in politics?

What was Shirley Chisholm's legacy in terms of promoting equality and social justice?