Politics

‘Unbought and Unbossed,’ Shirley Chisholm First Black Woman to Run for President

Published

4 years ago

October 14, 2020

Shirley Chisholm. Public domain photo.

A Brooklyn native and the oldest of four daughters, Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm graduated from Brooklyn Girls’ High (1942), Brooklyn College (1946), and Columbia University (1951). A prize-winning debater, her career began as a nursery school teacher. But this daughter of Barbadian immigrants, filled with passion and determination, wanted to stand for something.

Despite encouragement to channel her energy and passion for equality into pursuing a career in politics, Chisholm (1924–2005) felt that being a Black woman presented a “double handicap.” Still, she would find the courage to fuel her 1964 run for the New York State Legislature and represent the 12th Congressional District of New York for seven terms (1968–1982), earning a reputation for diligent work on minority, women’s, and peace issues.

And this was just the beginning.

Chisholm later became the first woman and African American to run for the Democratic nomination for president (1972). When taking the podium to announce her plans, she said: “I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not the candidate of the woman’s movement of this country, although I am a woman and I am equally proud of that.”

Robert Gottlieb, who at the time was hired as the student coordinator for Chisholm’s campaign, told Smithsonian Magazine: “[Chisholm] was unafraid of anybody … Her slogan was ‘unbought and unbossed.’ She was really unbossed.”

The campaign, according to Gottlieb, got off to a bumpy start.

Gottlieb had taken a flight to Raleigh, N.C. With him were two boxes of campaign materials, brochures and bumper stickers. “And I go to pick up my bags and the brochures and bumper stickers from the luggage carousel. And scrawled all over it was ‘go home n––.’ That’s how the campaign began.”

Discrimination didn’t stop there. Chisholm was blocked from participating in televised primary debates. This led her to take legal action; she was then allowed only one speech. Despite her campaign being severely underfunded and having to endure negative arguments from members of the predominantly male Congressional Black Caucus, Chisholm continued.

Although she persevered, Chisholm was unable to garner support from the groups that might have carried her to Washington: women and minorities. Black male voters did not rally in her company, and feminists were split. Still, she forged ahead.

Co-founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus (1971), Chisholm stood up for racial and gender equality, the plight of the poor, and ending the Vietnam War. She became the first Black woman and second woman ever to serve on the House Rules Committee (1977). She retired from Congress (1983), helped form the National Political Congress of Black Women (1984), taught politics and women’s studies (1983–1987), and served as the ambassador to Jamaica during Pres. Bill Clinton’s first term.

One of Chisholm’s quotes, “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth,” serves as a reminder of her lifelong determination. She died in 2005.

Sources: https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/C/CHISHOLM,-Shirley-Anita-(C000371)/

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/shirley-chisholm

https://www.biography.com/political-figure/shirley-chisholm

Image: Shirley Chisholm – Wiki Commons – By Thomas J. O'Halloran, U.S. News & World Reports. Light restoration by Adam Cuerden – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ds.07135.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons: Licensing for more information., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1675018

Michelle Snider

Associate Editor for The Post News Group. Writer, Photographer, Videographer, Copy Editor, and website editor documenting local events in the Oakland-Bay Area California area.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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‘Donald Trump Is Not a God:’ Rep. Bennie Thompson Blasts Trump’s Call to Jail Him

“Donald Trump is not a god,” U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Congressman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he not intimidated by President-elect Donald Trump, who, during an interview on “Meet the Press,” called for the congressman to be jailed for his role as chairman of the special congressional committee investigating Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“Donald Trump is not a god,” Thompson told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

“He can’t prove it, nor has there been any other proof offered, which tells me that he really doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said the 76-year-old lawmaker, who maintained that he and the bipartisan Jan. 6 Select Committee – which referred Trump for criminal prosecution – were exercising their constitutional and legislative duties.

“When someone disagrees with you, that doesn’t make it illegal; that doesn’t even make it wrong,” Thompson said, “The greatness of this country is that everyone can have their own opinion about any subject, and so for an incoming president who disagrees with the work of Congress to say ‘because I disagree, I want them jailed,’ is absolutely unbelievable.”

When asked by The Grio if he is concerned about his physical safety amid continued public ridicule from Trump, whose supporters have already proven to be violent, Thompson said, “I think every member of Congress here has to have some degree of concern, because you just never know.”

This story is based on a report from The Grio.

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City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library

“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Left to Right- Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, LaTonda Simmons, Assistant City Administrator, Nikki Bas, President Oakland City Council, Shen Thao, Mayor of Oakland, Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember District 3, Harold Duffey, Assistant City Administrator, Sean Maher, Projects Coordinator. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

The branch had been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades

Special to the Post

The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library’s facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.

Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.

“This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible.”

“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secured the necessary grant funds for this work.”

“I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget,” said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. “The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library’s future.”

“December 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”

The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the completion of the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.

The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch $4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.

The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About the Oakland Public Library

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org