A Women in Congress?

Shirley St. Hill Chisholm was born November 30, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York. Her father from British Guiana and her mother from Barbados.

In 1960, she started the Unity Democratic Club which was instrumental in mobilizing Black and Hispanic voters.

In 1964 Chisholm ran for State Assembly seat. She won and served in the New York Assembly from 1964 to 1968.

She later campaigned to represent New York Twelfth Congressional District. She won the election and became the first African American women elected to Congress.


You go, Lady Chisholm!