Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for pulling the CBC together for this Special Order hour along with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson). I am honored to join my CBC colleagues in recognition of the 100th birthday of the great Shirley Chisholm here in the House Chamber. It is so appropriate that we are here because this is one of the places where Shirley made history. On January 3, 1969, she was the first Black woman to walk into this Chamber as a Member of Congress. That was the 91st Congress of the United States, meaning that the first 90 Congresses, dating back to 1789, had not featured a Black woman. Of course, most Congresses had not featured many women or many Black Representatives at all. In fact, the same day that Congresswoman Chisholm was sworn in, my predecessor, representing northeast Ohio, the Honorable Louis Stokes, another founding member of the CBC, also took office, being the first Black Member of Congress from Ohio after 166 years of statehood. That is why I have so much pride when I look at my colleagues because we are here now, and it started with Shirley Chisholm. Shirley Chisholm served, legislated, and lived like she was making up for lost time, making up for all the times that people like her had been shut out of the conversation or left out of the room. That is why her legacy is so strong today. She wasn't just a first. She wasn't just a historical footnote. She was a fighter.…”