Shirley Chisholm: The Last Interview And Other Conversations

Shirley Chisholm was born to Caribbean immigrants in Brooklyn, New York. She ran for Congress in the newly drawn 12th District of New York in 1968 and became the first ever black woman to serve in Congress after an upset, grassroots-powered victory. She went on to run for president in 1972. While in Congress, she was instrumental in creating the national school lunch program, expanding the food stamp program, and establishing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

“There are people in our country’s history who don’t look left or right–they just look straight ahead. Shirley Chisholm was one of those people . . . Shirley Chisholm had guts. “–President Barack Obama
“I stand as so many of us do on [Shirley Chisholm’s] shoulders.” –Sen. Kamala Harris
“Our Lady of Food Justice & SNAP, trailblazer extraordinaire . . . OG Queen of Brooklyn.” –Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez