cresscross: retrocampaigns: Shirley Chisholm for President 1972: Unbought and Unbossed In 1969, Shirley Chisholm became the first African-American woman elected to Congress. She advocated for minority rights, strongly opposed the Vietnam War and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. She would serve seven terms in office. In 1972, Chisholm became the first African-American to make a run for a major party’s presidential nomination. Later, in her book, The Good Fight, she wrote, “I ran for the presidency, despite hopeless odds, to demonstrate the sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo.” I wish I was around to witness and participate in her campaign. I know that people are dismissive of politics ( sometimes with justifiable reason) but every so often a person gets elected into office and really has set their mind to change the game and stick to their convictions which is really difficult to do. It would be great if we had a whole representative body like that but the few elected officials who really stand by their constituents really are so integral to passing and defending important legislation. Shirley Chisholm will be on hero status forever because of that, even if she wasn’t a first.

cresscross:

retrocampaigns:

Shirley Chisholm for President 1972: Unbought and Unbossed

In 1969, Shirley Chisholm became the first African-American woman elected to Congress. She advocated for minority rights, strongly opposed the Vietnam War and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. She would serve seven terms in office.

In 1972, Chisholm became the first African-American to make a run for a major party’s presidential nomination. Later, in her book, The Good Fight, she wrote, “I ran for the presidency, despite hopeless odds, to demonstrate the sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo.”

I wish I was around to witness and participate in her campaign. I know that people are dismissive of politics ( sometimes with justifiable reason) but every so often a person gets elected into office and really has set their mind to change the game and stick to their convictions which is really difficult to do. It would be great if we had a whole representative body like that but the few elected officials who really stand by their constituents really are so integral to passing and defending important legislation. Shirley Chisholm will be on hero status forever because of that, even if she wasn’t a first.

(via cress-cross)