LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to the late Shirley Chisholm and
commemorating the 40th Anniversary of her historic run for President of
the United States of America

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those distinguished and patriotic individuals for whom the
pursuit of justice, the preservation of human rights, and the protection
of the public welfare is a calling and therefore a way of life; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay
tribute to the late Shirley Chisholm and to commemorate the 40th Anni-
versary of her historic run for President of the United States of Ameri-
ca; and
WHEREAS, A distinguished congresswoman, scholar, and African American
spokeswoman, Shirley Anita Chisholm was the first black woman elected to
the United States House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, A dynamic public speaker who boldly challenged traditional
politics, "Fighting Shirley Chisholm," as she called herself during her
first congressional campaign, championed liberal legislation from her
seat in the House beginning with her inauguration in 1968 and continuing
until her retirement in 1982; and
WHEREAS, Admirers and foes alike dubbed her the Pepperpot because of
her fondness for saying, "I breathe fire"; in 1972, she campaigned for
the Democratic presidential nomination; and
WHEREAS, On January 25, 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the first
major-party black candidate to run for President of the United States of
America; in that same year, she was the first woman to run for her
party's presidential nomination; and
WHEREAS, During the campaign, Shirley Chisholm survived three assassi-
nation attempts; she ran for the office in spite of the hopeless odds to
demonstrate the sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Chisholm's brave run for president paved the way for
candidates such as Barack Obama to run for president; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable woman was born Shirley Anita St. Hill on
November 30, 1924, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn; her
father, Charles Christopher St. Hill, was an emigrant from Guyana, who
worked as a laborer, and her mother, Ruby Seale, was a native of Barba-
dos, who was a seamstress and a domestic worker; and
WHEREAS, Extraordinary circumstances separated Shirley Chisholm from
her parents for much of her early childhood; she resided with her grand-
mother on the island of Barbados until 1934, when she rejoined her fami-
ly in the United States at the age of 11; and
WHEREAS, An important influence on her early life, Shirley Chisholm's
grandmother, Emaline Seale, instilled in her the significant values of
pride, courage, and faith; and
WHEREAS, Graduating with an excellent academic record from a Brooklyn
girls' high school, Shirley Chisholm earned a scholarship to study soci-
ology at Brooklyn College; she quickly became active in political
circles, joining the Harriet Tubman Society, serving as an Urban League
volunteer, and winning prizes in debate; and
WHEREAS, The committed interest in her community led her to attend
city meetings, where, as a student, she astonished older adults by
confronting civic leaders with questions about the quality of government
services to her predominantly black neighborhood; while beginning to
establish her profile in her community, she also impressed her profes-
sors with a powerful speaking style and was encouraged to enter poli-
tics; and

WHEREAS, Shirley Chisholm received her sociology degree with honors in
1946; while working in a nursery school, she studied for a master's
degree in elementary education at Columbia University where she met
Conrad Chisholm, whom she married in 1949; and
WHEREAS, Two years later, Shirley Chisholm received her master's
degree in early childhood education; over the next decade she built a
reputation as an authority on early education and child welfare; and
WHEREAS, She served as the director of the Friends Day Nursery, in
Brownsville, New York, and, from 1953 to 1959, of the Hamilton-Madison
Child Care Center, in Lower Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Taking her expertise into the public sector, Shirley Chisholm
became an educational consultant in New York City's Bureau of Child
Welfare from 1959 to 1964; in addition to her professional work, she
participated in a variety of community and civic activities; and
WHEREAS, From 1964 to 1968, Shirley Chisholm served as a New York
State Assemblywoman, spearheaded legislation providing for state-funded
daycare centers and for unemployment insurance for domestic workers; and
WHEREAS, In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first African American
woman to run for the U.S. Congress; in her pursuit of the Democratic
nomination for the 12th District, she bested two other African American
candidates and was appointed New York's National Committee represen-
tative at the party's national convention; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Chisholm wrote her autobiography UNBOUGHT AND
UNBOSSED in 1970; she also wrote THE GOOD FIGHT in 1973; and
WHEREAS, In 1971, along with such feminist leaders as author Gloria
Steinem, Shirley Chisholm helped found the National Women's Political
Caucus; and
WHEREAS, Following her reelection to the House in the fall of 1972,
Shirley Chisholm served every two-year term until 1982; in addition to
supporting women's equality, she was instrumental in advancing welfare
legislation designed to help poor and needy citizens; and
WHEREAS, On February 10, 1982, Shirley Chisholm announced her retire-
ment; she then accepted an invitation to join the faculty at Mount
Holyoke, the United States' oldest women's college, where she taught
courses in political science and women's studies until 1987; and
WHEREAS, Although she had left Washington, D.C, Shirley Chisholm
remained active in politics; in 1985, she became the first president of
the newly formed National Political Congress of Black Women, which in
three years grew, from 500 to 8,500 members; and
WHEREAS, Using her retirement to give speeches and commencement
addresses on vital issues, Shirley Chisholm continued to inspire the
public imagination; she was the recipient of many awards and honorary
degrees; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Chisholm, throughout her career and life, served her
community and the people of the State of New York with intelligence and
caring dedication, continuously striving to fulfill the duties of her
position, and contributing significantly to the legislative process and
the quality of life of her constituents and the communities of this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the late Shirley Chisholm and to commemorate the 40th Anni-
versary of her historic run for President of the United States of Ameri-
ca; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the New York State Legislative Women's Caucus, and the
National Women's History Museum, 205 S. Whiting Street Suite 254,
Alexandria, Virginia 22304.