Before Barack Obama and Maxine Waters there was Shirley Chisholm

Before Barack Obama and Maxine Waters there was Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm first made history in 1968 when she became the first black woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress, representing the 12th Congressional District of Brooklyn in New York City, but Chisholm had her eyes set on the highest office in the land. Today we celebrate the birthday of #ShirleyChisholm (1924-2005)! First Black woman elected to Congress, first Black woman to candidate for U.S. president, unsought and unbossed visionary.

Here’s her presidential bid speech from 1972: