America.Īlthough she never became a chief executive-and she would have been one of the greats-Shirley Chisholm did indeed, as promised, help usher in a “new era. Her legend has grown in recent years, and Viola Davis is reportedly developing a film about her Chisholm was also a character in the TV series Mrs. More importantly, she opened the door for a subsequent generation of politicians who didn’t look anything like the ’70s establishment.Ĭhisholm retired in 1983 and taught at Mount Holyoke College. Without major donors and marginalized by a racist political system, she nonetheless earned 152 delegates. I am the candidate of the people, and my presence before you now symbolizes a new era in American political history. I am not the candidate of the women's movement of this country, although I am a woman and I am equally proud of that. I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. These were her words as she announced her candidacy: The film follows the 1972 campaign waged by Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman to run for a major partys nomination for United States President. Though her run for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1972 was way ahead of the curve, she refocused the progressive movement in terms of what was possible. 'CHISHOLM 72 - Unbought and Unbossed,' an hour long documentary by filmmaker Shola Lynch. She co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus and was the first Black woman (and only the second woman) to serve on the House Rules Committee. During her tenure she introduced some 50 pieces of legislation and was a tireless advocate against racism and sexism, the Vietnam war and economic inequality. Her motto (which also served as the title of her autobiography) was “Unbought and Unbossed,” and she lived up to it.Īfter serving in the New York legislature, Chisholm won a seat as a U.S.

It was a credo she stuck to throughout 14 years in Congress and in the 1972. A champion of equality and enfranchisement for all, the Brooklyn-born politician, teacher and activist served seven terms in the U.S. 1 Her campaign slogan was, Fighting Shirley Chisholm - Unbought and Unbossed. Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman in Congress and the first to seek the nomination for President from a major political party.

Chisholm unbought and unbossed