Political Quotes

“I join my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus in paying tribute to the one and only Shirley Chisolm as we celebrate what would have been her 100th birthday. The first Black woman ever elected to Congress, Shirley Chisolm is an icon and a trailblazing public servant whose contributions to our Nation shall never be forgotten. As a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, she took a bold stand against injustice for all. She used her position on the House Agriculture Committee to expand food assistance for vulnerable families, and she championed policies to advance equality for women and African Americans. Shirley Chisolm has always been one of my greatest sheroes, and I am fortunate to have met her before she passed. As a senior at Princeton University, I had the opportunity to interview Ms. Shirley Chisolm for my senior thesis titled ``Black Women in Politics: Our Time Has Come.'' As luck would have it, it started to snow just as I sat down with her. My 30-minute interview turned into 4 hours with Shirley Chisolm. Shirley Chisolm shared the challenges and struggles that she encountered as the first African-American woman ever elected to Congress. She spoke about the importance of defining yourself for yourself. She taught us that if you are not given a seat at the decisionmaking table, then bring a folding chair. Most importantly, she inspired little Black girls like myself to have a voice in the world.…”