NEW YORK – New York City will honor pioneering Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm .
The City Council Committee on Civil and Human Rights voted to declare Nov. 30 Shirley Chisholm Day. It will be celebrated every year.
Chisholm, a Brooklyn Democrat, broke barriers in 1968 when she became the first Black woman elected to Congress.
In 1972, she became the first Black candidate to seek a major party nomination for president.
Chisholm died in 2005.
“As a native New Yorker, Shirley Chisholm dedicated much of her life to serving the people of New York City,” Councilmember Nantasha Williams said. “Seeing as her birthday is November 30th, there would be no better date to celebrate her contribution to this great city as an educator, activist, and elected official.”
Facts about Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was born in Brooklyn in 1924, the daughter of immigrants from Barbados.
After she was elected in 1968, she served seven terms in Congress representing Brooklyn’s 12 congressional district, until 1983. During her time in Congress, she worked on expanding food stamp program, and helped create the WIC program. She became a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.