Shirley Chisholm (1924 - 2005) 

Congress is more diverse now than it’s ever been, however when Shirley Chisholm became the first black woman elected to Congress during the racially contentious 1960’s things were very different.  She served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representative for New York's 12th District from 1969 to 1982.  She became the first Black woman and the second woman to serve on the powerful House Rules Committee and was the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.  Her campaign slogan and motto "Unbought and Unbossed” resonates even louder today.  Current Vice President Kamala Harris paid honor to Shirley Chisholm in her political campaign by using a similar logo to Chisholm’s.

February 1, 2021

Source:  O The Oprah Magazine, January 2021, National Women's History Museum and Encyclopedia Britannica