Essay On Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm: An educator, activist and politician. There are some people in this world who are born to make a difference. One person who tried and was successful to make a difference in others life was Shirley Chisholm. “All her life, she worked to improve the lives of others.”1Shirley Chisholm was a strong African American women, who achieved many goals in her life. Her hard work and dedication allowed her to achieve those goals. Her speeches and her writing inspired many people. Being a women in the twentieth century was very difficult and especially being a Black women, but this did not stop Chisholm. She is a great example that anything is possible in life. Throughout her writing, Chisholm talks about equal rights and opportunities for women. She lived to fight for equal rights for women. Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1972, Chisholm also became the first black person to obtain the Democratic Presidential nomination. Her campaign supported the issues at the time. According to Shirley Chisholm Biography, “She opposed the Vietnam War and weapons development at a time when it was unpopular to do so,
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and relentlessly fought for the rights of women, children, minorities, and the poor.”2 IN addition, Shirley Chisholm spoke strongly for the poor and for women. In many of Chisholm’s writing, we can see that she is advising the young people, whether its women or men. In an interview, her message to young African Americans is to “get a good education, follow your mind, follow the dictate of your conscious, and do what you has to be done to achieve.” She also believes that these tips can help young people succeed. In an article called Race, Revolution, and Women, Chisholm argues for equal rights and opportunities for women.
Women should have the opportunity to end poverty, racial discrimination, and to end social and political injustice.Women are refusing to accept traditional and stereotype roles. Black women are oppressed because of their race, and again because they are black, but they continue to fight for women’s rights. They want to join other women in the fights for rights. “ Black women and white women have been for the most part, the opposite sides of the same coin,” says Chisholm. She says that both black and white women should work together because their goal is the same, freedom and equality. White women are free to help because they are white, have education, and have political
freedom. Shirley Chisholm also gives many clues in her writing about why people will not support her presidential campaign. First of she is a women and second she is a black women. When she first announced that she was going to run for the United States Congress, both males and females advised her to go back to teaching because politics for men. But Shirley did not go back and fought to make a change in politics of this country, even though she faced much discrimination. Chisholm said during her life in politics she faced more discrimination as a woman than as a black person.According to Chisholm, “ I have pointed out from time to time again that the harshest discrimination that I have encountered in the political arena is anti feminism - from both males and brainwashed “Uncle Tome” females.”3 There are more women than men but only two percent of the managerial positions are held by women. There are no women in the council or the Supreme Court. Throughout her writing she says that women must refuse to accept the traditional roles and stereotypes. Women should have more political freedom and must work together with white women and men to fight against anti-feminism. Chisholm wanted to bring social change. Chisholm was too radical for her time because at that point of time in history women were accept to do the traditional roles. She stepped out of the stereotypes and roles for women. She not only refuse to accept the roles of a women, but also tried to spread awareness to other women. She fought for equal rights not only for black women but also white women. It must have been very shocking at the time to see a women not only a women but a black women to run for presidency. Even in this century people are anti-feminist. They don’t want a female president. For example, when Hilary Clinton was run for presidency she also faced harsh comments. Not only men but also many women were against her. According to a Harris poll in March, 52 percent of married women said they would not vote for her.4 If Hilary can face so much anti-feminism at this century than Chisholm had to face all the abusive comments.
It is very sad to hear that many people do not even know Shirley Chisholm. Or that she was the first women who ran for presidency or even that she was the first black women to be elected to the United States Congress. A reporter once asked Chisholm how she wanted to be remembered. She said “she did not want to be remembered as the nation's first black congresswoman. She wanted to be remembered as a brave person, a person who created change.” Shirley Chisholm can serve as a model for politically active women today. She showed that she over came many barriers to make her place in the government. Especially at a time when women had limited power and appreciation in society. When they were expected to do stereotypical a traditional roles, but now this has change to a certain extent. Her success required great commitment and scarifies. Even though she had an unsuccessful presidential campaign, Chisholm continued to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives for another decade. She didn’t give up and was able to serve as black representative in the Congress and welcomed other black female congresswomen. Many female politicians were inspired from Chisholm’s career and can still be inspired by her. She can be a role model for a generation of female activists. Her victories proved that racism and sexism are not an obstacles to gain political power.
and relentlessly fought for the rights of women, children, minorities, and the poor.”2 IN addition, Shirley Chisholm spoke strongly for the poor and for women. In many of Chisholm’s writing, we can see that she is advising the young people, whether its women or men. In an interview, her message to young African Americans is to “get a good education, follow your mind, follow the dictate of your conscious, and do what you has to be done to achieve.” She also believes that these tips can help young people succeed. In an article called Race, Revolution, and Women, Chisholm argues for equal rights and opportunities for women.
Women should have the opportunity to end poverty, racial discrimination, and to end social and political injustice.Women are refusing to accept traditional and stereotype roles. Black women are oppressed because of their race, and again because they are black, but they continue to fight for women’s rights. They want to join other women in the fights for rights. “ Black women and white women have been for the most part, the opposite sides of the same coin,” says Chisholm. She says that both black and white women should work together because their goal is the same, freedom and equality. White women are free to help because they are white, have education, and have political
freedom. Shirley Chisholm also gives many clues in her writing about why people will not support her presidential campaign. First of she is a women and second she is a black women. When she first announced that she was going to run for the United States Congress, both males and females advised her to go back to teaching because politics for men. But Shirley did not go back and fought to make a change in politics of this country, even though she faced much discrimination. Chisholm said during her life in politics she faced more discrimination as a woman than as a black person.According to Chisholm, “ I have pointed out from time to time again that the harshest discrimination that I have encountered in the political arena is anti feminism - from both males and brainwashed “Uncle Tome” females.”3 There are more women than men but only two percent of the managerial positions are held by women. There are no women in the council or the Supreme Court. Throughout her writing she says that women must refuse to accept the traditional roles and stereotypes. Women should have more political freedom and must work together with white women and men to fight against anti-feminism. Chisholm wanted to bring social change. Chisholm was too radical for her time because at that point of time in history women were accept to do the traditional roles. She stepped out of the stereotypes and roles for women. She not only refuse to accept the roles of a women, but also tried to spread awareness to other women. She fought for equal rights not only for black women but also white women. It must have been very shocking at the time to see a women not only a women but a black women to run for presidency. Even in this century people are anti-feminist. They don’t want a female president. For example, when Hilary Clinton was run for presidency she also faced harsh comments. Not only men but also many women were against her. According to a Harris poll in March, 52 percent of married women said they would not vote for her.4 If Hilary can face so much anti-feminism at this century than Chisholm had to face all the abusive comments.
It is very sad to hear that many people do not even know Shirley Chisholm. Or that she was the first women who ran for presidency or even that she was the first black women to be elected to the United States Congress. A reporter once asked Chisholm how she wanted to be remembered. She said “she did not want to be remembered as the nation's first black congresswoman. She wanted to be remembered as a brave person, a person who created change.” Shirley Chisholm can serve as a model for politically active women today. She showed that she over came many barriers to make her place in the government. Especially at a time when women had limited power and appreciation in society. When they were expected to do stereotypical a traditional roles, but now this has change to a certain extent. Her success required great commitment and scarifies. Even though she had an unsuccessful presidential campaign, Chisholm continued to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives for another decade. She didn’t give up and was able to serve as black representative in the Congress and welcomed other black female congresswomen. Many female politicians were inspired from Chisholm’s career and can still be inspired by her. She can be a role model for a generation of female activists. Her victories proved that racism and sexism are not an obstacles to gain political power.