Shirley Anita Chisholms Achievements - Research Paper Example

Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm Introduction Shirley Anita Chisholm is credited for being the first African—American Congresswoman who represented a newly reallocated U.S. House district located in Brooklyn, Network. She was elected in 1968 due to her ancestry in Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Chrisom was propelling led to national publicity because of her race, gender and her outspoken personality. She also campaigned for democratic presidential nomination in 1972 which was a largely symbolic attempt both to herself and to the African-American. She was the second African-American woman to serve in the Albany. Shirley Anita Chisholm’s Achievements Chisholm who was a law professor in The University of Oklahoma, led to significant changes in America. She was a defining symbol of the sexual harassment movement. She was centrally essential figure in redefining the role of women in business and politics. Chisholm began his advocating for the blacks early in life, for instance when the African Americans were denied the chance to participate a social in the college she formed her own club. She also joined a local democratic club which served towards getting rid of the white democrats who held power in the neighborhoods. This group challenged the white leaders of their ignorance of the African Americans on basis of racism. Chisholm was known of her mortal character and persistent capacity to stand up for her community (African Americans) and what she believed would make a better United States for all. From her early age she learnt the value of education and hard work that she used in her political career and her achievement while working as congresswoman according to Lu and Sullivan (282). Following Chisholm’s outstanding performance in debate clubs and her outspoken type of personality, her professor advised her to join politics. She was the first black woman to be elected into congress and the first woman to seek the democratic presidential nomination despite the fact that no one supported her (as African American) in the democratic establishments. She was a frank, strong educator-turned-politician who crushed down racial and gender barriers both to Americans and African Americans. This made her become a national symbol of liberal politics from 1960’s to 1970’s. Over the years she was prominent individual in the United States, she had a means of making statements that infuriated the establishment of integration among the blacks in a case where poverty was concentrated. This is asserted by her statement that “there is an undercurrent resistance among many blacks in areas of concentrated poverty and discrimination” according to Chisholm (2000). Chisholm had her campaigning slogan referred to as “unbought and unbossed”. During her term in the congress, she challenged the seniority system of the house for relegating her to Agriculture committee which was seen as way of discriminating her as a black person. In this case she criticized the assignment as irrelevant to her despite her belonging to an urban district as suggested by Clack (par. 2). As a result she was reassigned to the veterans committee and later to the education and labor committees. This way she showed how the African Americans were discriminated and that she stood raise up their concern. Following her entry to democratic nominations for a presidential candidate, she claimed that some people saw this as an alternate, others symbolic and others a step to making other African American candidates able to express themselves. However, she never won a single primary and she later claimed that her campaign had been an important “catalyst for change.” Being aware of her status as a female politician, she claimed that she encountered more discrimination as a politician more than she encountered it as an African-American. Chisholm participated in various civic and community based groups which were mostly addressing the issues of the African American. She often volunteered herself to various groups such as the League of women voters and democratic women’s workshop which advocated for the equal treatment of all people despite their race. She also volunteered in the Bedford-Stuyvesant political league organization which supported African American candidates to the congress according to Gist (58). While in the assembly, she led the legislation which provided for a state financed day-care centers and for joblessness insurance for domestic workers who were mostly African Americans. These legislations were meant to improve the survival of the African American in the United Sates. Her strong involvement in local politics enabled her ability to confront politicians with issues about racial inequality which faced the African American. This won her the great acknowledgment and value from the African Americans and who gave her a hand in her campaigns despite being opposed by others. Another change she spearheaded among African Americans was based on her major accomplishment in the financial aid program. The program was referred to as Search for Elevation, Education and Knowledge (SEEK) which was passed to a law in 1965 according to Brown (23). It was meant to fight for the rights of students of color (African Americans) who lacked the required academic demands to enroll in state universities. It provided the blacks with scholarships and opportunities fro remedial training. Chisholm knew that through such scholarships the African American will get more aware of their rights and be encouraged to fight for them. While congresswoman in the 1969, Chisholm gave out a speech in which she launched the equal rights amendment according to Langston (15). She noted that the bill had been introduced to each congress for the previous four decades but it had never been fully catered for as women were still getting low paid jobs. Similarly African American were also being given heavy and less paid duties. Once in the congress, she had two fold goals, one, she made herself an activist for African Americans in the United States. Secondly, she tried to press forward the purpose of racial equality according to Barron (par 30). In such as case, she supported projects which gave housing and education support to cities mostly occupied by the African Americans. She also voted to support legislations which would terminate discrimination facing African Americans and others in federal financed jobs. Chisholm also supported new antidiscrimination laws since the abortion rights were a central point in her politics. During her term in the office Chisholm was among the four founders of the National Women’s Political Caucus. Following this she was selected to the “powerful” House Rules Committee in 1977 and introduced more than 50 portions of legislation as suggested by Brownmiller (par. 1). Chisholm taught and established the national political congress of black women which advocated for black women’s apprehensions. On top of supporting women’s equality, Chisholm was active in advancing welfare legislations which were meant to assist the needy and poor people in the society. Among these were the African Americans who considered as minority group following racial prejudice. Conclusion In conclusion, Chisholm was a shameless liberal who fought for the rights of women and the African Americans in her life as an important figure in the U.S. politics. Her involvement in a heroic and idealistic campaign revealed her intellect, wit, passion and outstanding oratorical skills according to Scheader (105). This earned a lot of support from most of the African American as she was able to present their will to the government. Chisholm used her retirement to offer speeches and commencement addresses on important issues. Her speeches were influential to the African American and inspired the public imagination. In 1991 she referred to the small African American college professors as a crisis in black education. According to her, they run the danger of becoming intellect boat people, just traveling. In her views against the Persian Gulf War, she claimed that the cost of U.S. militarism hindered the goals of peace and equality. She claimed that this foundation was being created for another generation of minority African Americans to be blocked from the American dream. Works cited Barron, James. Shirley Chrisholm “Unbossed’ pioneer in Congress, is dead at 80. The NewYork Times. 2005. Web. 27 April, 2012 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/03/obituaries/03chisholm.html Brown, T.L. “A new era in American Politics”: Shirley Chisholm and the disclosure of identity. Callaloo. 31. 4 (2008). 1013-1025. Print. Clack, Cary. Shirley Chisholm broke ground before Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. San Antonio Express News. 2008. Web. 27 April, 2012 http://kathmanduk2.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/from-the-archives-shirley-chisholm-unbought-and-unbossed/ Scheader, Catherine. Shirley Chisholm: Teacher and Congresswoman. Springfield, N.J.: Enslow.1990. Print. Brownmiller, Susan. Shirley Chisholm. 1st edition. New York: Doubleday.1970. Chisholm, Shirley. "The Straight-Talking Optimist." Interview by Mary Willis. Modern Maturity. 2000. Web. 27 April, 2012 http://www.faqs.org/abstracts/author/modern-maturity-2000/other/ Brownmiller, Susan. “This Is Fighting Shirley Chisholm”. New York Times: 1969. Web. 27 April, 2012 http://baic.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=24 Lu, Xin-An & Sullivan, Rita. Gems from the Top 100 Speeches: A Handy Source of Inspiration for Your Thoughts and Language. London: iUniverse. 2004. Print. Gist, Brenda. Eloquently Speaking. New Jersey: Xlibris Corporation, 2010 Langston, Donna. A to Z of American Women Leaders and Activists. New York: Infobase Publishing. 2002. Print. Read More