Shirley Chiolm Research Paper

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Shirley Chisolm was born Shirley Anita St. Hill on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York to parents Charles St. Hill and Ruby Seale. Chisolm was raised by her grandmother in Barbados and returned to the United States during her early adolescent years. From an early age, Chisolm was taught the importance of an excellent education. Subsequently, Chisolm graduated from high school and decided to further her education.
Shirley Chisolm didn’t begin with an interest in politics. In 1946, Shirley Chisolm earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College, and would go on to earn her Masters in Elementary Education from Columbia University. Shirley Chisolm graduated from Brooklyn College cum laude. After earning her degrees, Chisolm became an educator at a day center. “Pioneering African-American politician Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) began her professional career as a …show more content…

The first African American to run for president. The first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination” (Vaidyanathan, Rajini). Not only did Shirley Chisolm break boundaries for African Americans, she broke boundaries for women being denied access the political arena or discriminated against in political settings because of their gender. “Of my two “handicaps”, being female put many more obstacles in my path than being black” (Chisolm, 1970).
Chisolm believed that although African Americans have a challenging time stepping foot on the political scene, the limitations were even harder for all women. On May 21, 1969 Shirley Chisolm presented an Equal Rights Amendment for Women to the United States House of Representatives. Shirley Chisolm advocated for better treatment for women. Chisolm promoted equal rights that would allow women to be offered the same opportunities as men. Chisolm also advocated for women to stand up for their own rights because submission will never evoke a

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