Shirley Chisholm’s Loss Will Always Be a Win

At YWCA, we recognize Black History Month by honoring African American women in history who removed barriers and paved a way for us. As we go into another Presidential election year, it is essential to recognize Shirley Anita Chisholm, as she made history being the first major party Black candidate to make a bid for the U.S Presidency. Before further diving into Chisholm’s Presidential candidacy, let us take a look at the beginning of her influence. Chisholm initially began her career in childcare, working as a nursey school teacher, then earning her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Columbia University. Despite Chisholm’s professors’ best efforts to encourage her into a political career, her response at the time was that she faced a “double handicap” being both Black and a woman. This statement would not continue to hold her back for long because in 1953 Chisholm’s political career would kick off while campaigning for Lewis Flagg Jr. along his journey to become Brooklyn’s first Black judge. While Chisholm continued her career in childcare for the next decade, she also joined the local chapters of the League of Women Voters, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Urban League and the Democratic Party Club in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Joining these organizations would be the stepping stone to solidifying her political career.

In 1964 Chisholm ran for and became the second African American in the New York State Legislature. Four years later she won a seat in Congress and was able to introduce over 50 pieces of legislation, an important one being the 1974 minimum wage law passed through Congress. During her 14 years as an active House member, Chisholm campaigned and fought for racial and gender equality, reproductive rights, the plight of the poor and ending the Vietnam War. She broadened the food stamp program and further established the Special Supplement Nutrition Program for women, infants and children, which her time spent in childcare provided helpful insight for. In 1969 Shirley was named the honorary co-president of National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws and the following year became the co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Although this is only part of the work Chisholm has done, we hope one can see just how impactful she was and continues to be. When we read about Chisholm’s 1972 Presidential candidacy, we understand that it was not smooth sailing by any means. She was blocked from participating in televised primary debates, but after taking legal action, was finally permitted to make just one speech. She had an under-financed campaign and faced contentiousness from the predominantly male Congressional Black Caucus. She also survived a total of three attempted assassinations during her campaign, and despite all of this, Chisholm was able to earn 10% of the total votes. The hardships in Chisholm’s Presidential candidacy really shows what she meant by “double handicap”; being a Black woman, having to deal with racism and sexism, not obtaining the full support of her Black counterparts because she was a woman running in this campaign. Many Black women during this time felt a constant pull of whether to fight for the rights of Black people or fight for the rights of women, not wanting to put one before the other. Today, this feeling of being “double handicap” still prevails amongst Black women and that is why it is YWCA’s mission to continue to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. #UntilJusticeJustIs