Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm entered politics at a time when Black women were expected to stay silent. Instead, she ran headfirst into systems built to exclude her. In 1968, she became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, representing Brooklyn with fierce independence.

Chisholm refused to conform to political expectations or party pressure. Her 1972 presidential campaign challenged both racism and sexism, proving that leadership did not require approval from established power structures.

Her legacy is not just representation, but courage — the courage to speak boldly, govern honestly, and open doors that had long been locked.