July 27, 2022
The delegation toured Congresswoman Chisholm’s former home and attended service at Concord Baptist Church of Christ, the historic church where she announced her candidacy for president. The delegation included Reps. Barbara Lee, Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Yvette Clarke (NY), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX), Shontel Brown (OH), Steven Horsford (NV), Joe Neguse (CO), and Gregory Meeks (NY). This visit is the latest in a series of trips across the country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Congresswoman Chisholm’s historic presidential campaign.
“She fought to have her voice heard at the table of public discourse where decisions are made and encouraged us to do the same. She famously said, ‘If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.’ She understood that one couldn’t wait for an invitation and that you had to make your own space and because of her, many of us today have seats at the table.”
Shirley lived through extraordinary times when there was sheer upheaval to our democracy, and we should follow her bold example,” said Barbara Bullard, President, Shirley ChisholmCultural Institute “It was Shirley who partnered with Barbara Jordan, women and black leaders that kept the nation together, during the Nixon impeachment and they get way too little credit for that. As she would say, “At present, our country needs women's idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else. She said that in 1970, but it is something that still stands true today. It is an honor to give tribute to the legacy of Shirley Chisholm with the Congressional Black Caucus, setting the intention to continue to be a catalyst for change.”
A mentee of the late Congresswoman Chisholm, Rep. Lee is leading the “Chisholm Trail” to honor her courage and commemorate the example she set for Black women in public service on the 50th anniversary of her historic presidential campaign. Coupled with her leadership on the Chisholm Trail, Rep. Lee is introducing a bill to honor Shirley Chisholm with the Congressional Gold Medal.
REPS. BARBARA LEE, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, AND YVETTE CLARKE LEAD DELEGATION OF CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS MEMBERS TO BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, TO HONOR SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
BROOKLYN, NY– On Sunday, July 24th, Congresswoman Barbara Lee led a delegation of Congressional Black Caucus members to honor the legacy of the late Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman in Congress and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States.
The delegation toured Congresswoman Chisholm’s former home and attended service at Concord Baptist Church of Christ, the historic church where she announced her candidacy for president. The delegation included Reps. Barbara Lee, Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Yvette Clarke (NY), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX), Shontel Brown (OH), Steven Horsford (NV), Joe Neguse (CO), and Gregory Meeks (NY). This visit is the latest in a series of trips across the country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Congresswoman Chisholm’s historic presidential campaign.
“Chisholm showed us the power of “unbought and unbossed” at a time in our country where she was the lone African American woman in Congress. She exemplified what it means to break glass ceilings and fight for those overlooked,” said Rep. Lee. “It was a great honor to lead this group of Congressional Black Caucus members to her home where she planned her presidential run and to Concord Baptist Church of Christ, where Pastor Gary V. Simpson delivered a powerful sermon and took us on a tour of the room where Congresswoman Chisholm announced her historic campaign.
“She fought to have her voice heard at the table of public discourse where decisions are made and encouraged us to do the same. She famously said, ‘If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.’ She understood that one couldn’t wait for an invitation and that you had to make your own space and because of her, many of us today have seats at the table.”
Shirley lived through extraordinary times when there was sheer upheaval to our democracy, and we should follow her bold example,” said Barbara Bullard, President, Shirley ChisholmCultural Institute “It was Shirley who partnered with Barbara Jordan, women and black leaders that kept the nation together, during the Nixon impeachment and they get way too little credit for that. As she would say, “At present, our country needs women's idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else. She said that in 1970, but it is something that still stands true today. It is an honor to give tribute to the legacy of Shirley Chisholm with the Congressional Black Caucus, setting the intention to continue to be a catalyst for change.”
A mentee of the late Congresswoman Chisholm, Rep. Lee is leading the “Chisholm Trail” to honor her courage and commemorate the example she set for Black women in public service on the 50th anniversary of her historic presidential campaign. Coupled with her leadership on the Chisholm Trail, Rep. Lee is introducing a bill to honor Shirley Chisholm with the Congressional Gold Medal.