Shirley Chisolm

Shirley Chisolm, born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924, was a pioneering American politician and the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress. Throughout her remarkable career, she championed civil rights, women's rights, and economic justice, leaving an enduring legacy.

Chisolm's ties to Brooklyn were deep and formative. Growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, she witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by her community. Her experiences fueled her passion for social justice and her determination to make a difference. In 1968, she made history by becoming the first African American woman elected to Congress, representing New York's 12th congressional district

Photo Credit:Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Previous
Previous

Busta Rhymes