Shirley Chisholm
Have you heard of Shirley Chisholm?
olm? She is widely known for
making history as the first Black Congresswoman
ongresswoman in 1968. She
mainly fought
ught for educational and social justice.
justic Shirley St. Hill
was born on November 30, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York. Her
parents were Caribbean immigrants, so she spent much of
childhood there with her grandmother, who lived in Barbados. She
was one of eight children having two younger sister close to her in
age. Her father worked in a factory and her mother was a
seamstress. From an educator to a state legislator
gislator to an official
member of Congress,, Shirley surely left her mark in the political
world. She is Shirley Chisholm.
Chisholm did not attend an American school until
un she was over ten
years old because she lived with her grandmother
grandmothe in Barbados,
where she received a formal British education. By the time she
came back to the U.S., the Great Depression was at its peak, so life was not easy for the St. Hill family. As a
student of the New York school system, Shirley was able to easil
easily strive well in mainly White courses. In
1939, she began high school at Girls' Hig
High School in Bedford-Stuyvesant,, an integrated school with prestige.
She went on to earn tuition scholarshi
scholarships at a plethora of elite colleges, but sadly she was unable to afford the
room and board. She finally decided to live at ho
home to attend Brooklyn College and study to be a teacher. In
1946, Shirley graduated college and began her career as teacher. She later became a director of schools
s
in early
childhood education.
Shirley met Conrad O. Chisholm
holm the 1940s. He was a Jamaican-born and immigrated to the United States in
1946. Three years later, the couple married and had a traditional West Indian wedding but made Brooklyn their
home. During this time, she went back to scho
school to earn her Master's Degree in elementary education
educ
from
Columbia University. She began to develop an interest in politics while on campus, especially in areas that
served women and children. She also took note that not many women held leadership positions, but instead
carried roles which kept them behind the scenes or secondary to their male counterparts. Mrs. Chisholm had
made up her mind to do something about these issues she grew to resent. Continuing as an educator, Shirley
Chisholm was a director for a Brooklyn nursery and an educational consultant for a day care. Her teaching
career begin to shape the politician should would soon become, speaking out on and becoming the authority
for early education and child welfare. Also, she began to join several organizations such as the League of
Women Voters and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Shirley was not shy about voicing her opinions oon
n the economic and social issues of America, which at the
time was quickly transitioning. Her plans were ideal in the Civil Rights era of the United States as activists all
over the nation were becoming very opinionated about the rights of all people, but particularly Black
Americans. In 1964, Chisholm
sholm was elected to the assembly. She sponsored several bills but was only
successful with a few including, obtaining assistance for low
low-income
ncome student to go to college, employment
insurance, and modifying maternity leave for female teachers in New York State. Then, four years later, in
1968, Shirley Chisholm made history by becoming the fi
first African-American
American Congresswoman in the United
States. Soon after, she became one of the founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Caucus She hired all
women in her office of which half were African
African-American because she believed in hiring
iring her own people but
stated that she faced much more discrimination in her political career for being female than for being Black.
Finally, Mrs. Shirley Chisholm made history once more by becoming the first major
major-party
party Black candidate to
join the U.S. Presidential Election. She ran for the Democratic party in 1972 but did not win the nomination.
She was so influential that
at she was voted one of the tten most-admired women in world!
©2016 by Morah Sheli Publishing, All Rights Reserved, www.morahsheli.com
Photo Credit: Shirley Chisholm, January 25, 1972 Thomas J. O'Halloran, Public Domain
In 1977, Shirley and Conrad divorced and Shirley married Arthur Hardwick, Jr. later that year. When Arthur
was injured in a car accident in 1982 Shirley wanted to be available to care for her husband. It would be a
combination of her husband's health and her disdain with the political climate of an Reagan era, that Shirley
decided to retire from Congress and return to teaching. She served as a professor and a visiting scholar before
she finally retired from teaching in 1987, after burying her husband in 1986. She never had any children. In
1991 she made Florida her home. In 1993, President Clinton nominated Chisholm to be the Ambassador to
Jamaica but she could not fulfill the position due to her health. On January 1, 2005, Shirley St. Hill Chisholm
after having several strokes. She was laid to rest in Buffalo, New York.
Credit: Wikipedia.com and Biography.com
Research:
1) In 1968 Shirley Chisholm made history by becoming the United States' first African-American
Congressman. How many terms did she serve in the House of Representatives?
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2) What was the name of her congressional campaign slogan? Why would the name be fitting for her
platform?
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3) Shirley was a member of a an African-American sorority. Which one?
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4) Personal security was a major concern during Chisholm's campaign for presidency. Three confirmed
threats were made against her life. Research to find who served as bodyguard until the Secret Service
protection was granted.
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Awards & Honors:
Use Wikipedia to record any of Chisholm's awards and honors that are valuable or relevant to you.
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©2016 by Morah Sheli Publishing, All Rights Reserved, www.morahsheli.com
Photo Credit: Shirley Chisholm, January 25, 1972 Thomas J. O'Halloran, Public Domain
Comprehension Questions (oral or written):
1) Describe Shirley's life.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
2) What social concerns was Shirley particularly interested in? ________________________________
3) Name one contribution Chisholm made for each of the following groups: women, Blacks, and the poor.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
4) Explain her contributions to education a teacher and as a politician.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
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5) If there are any underlined words that you cannot pronounce or do not understand the meaning of, use a
dictionary to aid you in your phonetics and/or understanding.
Reflective Questions (oral):
1) Shirley writes, "Years later I would know what an important gift my parents had given me by seeing to it
that I had my early education in the strict, traditional, British-style schools of Barbados. If I speak and write
easily now, that early education is the main reason" (Unbought and Unbossed, 1970).
In your opinion, what weight does a strict, rigorous education have a person's life, career/success? Considering
Shirley's formal education and her career, how would you say her education benefited her, especially taking
into account the "typical life" of an African-American woman during her life (Jim Crow/Segregation/Women's
Rights)?
2) Shirley Chisholm was voted as one of the ten most-admired women in the world! Name at least three
admirable qualities you note in her life and explain why for each.
Essay Question:
Shirley considered herself a Barbadian American. Though she was U.S.-born, she refused to denounce her
Barbadian roots, including her grandmother and her formal schooling. Describing her grandmother, Chisholm
reminisces, "Granny gave me strength, dignity, and love. I learned from an early age that I was somebody. I
didn't need the black revolution to tell me that."
Write about your own roots and upbringing, including any ancestors or elders you desire. How does having a
"good start" in life with a solid family foundation help one's esteem, identity, and self-value? As a Black youth,
also discuss how a "Black revolution" can (and does) promote a positive identity amongst Blacks, but that the
greatest or perhaps even more influential self-identity is provided by your parents/home.
©2016 by Morah Sheli Publishing, All Rights Reserved, www.morahsheli.com
Photo Credit: Shirley Chisholm, January 25, 1972 Thomas J. O'Halloran, Public Domain
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©2016 by Morah Sheli Publishing, All Rights Reserved, www.morahsheli.com
Photo Credit: Shirley Chisholm, January 25, 1972 Thomas J. O'Halloran, Public Domain