SHIRLEY CHISHOLM ON HER 94TH BIRTHDAY

Feeling Rebloggy
 

It has been 50 years since Shirley Chisholm stared down sexism and racism to become the first black congresswoman in history. Today, members of Congress say they carry her lessons with them.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, told CBS News that Chisholm encouraged those around her to be "tree-shakers" and "changemakers." Jackson Lee said that mentality was evident in Chisholm's first marquee squabble in 1969 as the urban congresswoman took on party leadership when she was appointed to the Forestry and Rural Villages committee. 

With hard work and by recognizing the poverty in her district, Chisholm used the committee placement to help institute federal nutritional food programs that are still used by millions today...

As the daughter of Caribbean immigrants, Chisholm helped change how the immigrant community was perceived and showed everyone how they could be successful Americans, according to Clarke.

"Her run for Congress actually extended the Voting Rights Act into the Northeast," Clarke said.

For efforts like those, Clarke and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-CA. introduced a bill earlier this year to install a statue of Chisholm for display inside the U.S. Capitol. 

~CBSNEWS 

HAPPY 94th BIRTHDAY SHIRLEY

REST IN POWER

Read More: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shirley-chisholm-first-black-congresswoman-revered-on-capitol-hill-50-years-after-her-election/?

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