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Shirley Chisholm, 1924-2005
Born Brooklyn, New York
Shirley Chisholm began her professional career as a teacher in New York City. But the racial and political acuity that her father fostered in her soon piqued her interest in politics. She served in the state's General Assembly from 1964 to 1968, and in the latter year became the first black woman elected to Congress. Having won New York's Twelfth District congressional seat, she became a leading voice for women's rights and civil rights, and a spokesperson against the Vietnam War. She was also a cofounder of the National Organization for Women.
In 1972, Chisholm sought the Democratic Party nomination for the presidency. Although her bid was unsuccessful, her candidacy enabled her to raise issues of importance to African Americans and women and to forge the way for others. "The door is not open yet," she said, "but it is ajar."
Richard Avedon, 1976 |