Bill Clinton: “I add my voice to so many in New York and Washington who are mourning the loss of Representative Shirley Chisholm of New…”

“I add my voice to so many in New York and Washington who are mourning the loss of Representative Shirley Chisholm of New York. Shirley Chisholm was a bold pioneer who fought for civil rights and equality with an energy that forever changed the way American politics deals with matters of race and gender. When she was elected to Congress in 1968, Representative Chisholm became the first African-American congresswoman. She overcame the twin obstacles of racism and sexism to win election. But she didn't stop there. When she reached Congress she spoke with a loud, clear voice, and she quickly lived up to her slogan of being 'unbought and unbossed.' She was a cofounder of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1969, and she fought to improve the lives and opportunities of inner city children and families. She opposed the Vietnam war and the military draft. And she bravely declaimed the sexism and racism she encountered in a political world that, prior to her arrival, had been exclusively white and almost exclusively male. Her positions on the issues and her statements about race and gender made her a lightning rod for criticism. But despite the intense pressure of being both outspoken and a 'first,' Representative Chisholm continued to blaze a path to greater equality. In 1972, she became the first woman to run for the Democratic Presidential nomination.”