Shirley Chisholm in Her Own Words

"A timely, detailed, and inspiring book that helps maintain the intellectual legacy of Shirley Chisholm. The book reveals new dimensions of the congresswoman's politics, activism, and spirit."--Regina King, Academy Award-winning actor and star of Shirley

Looking beyond her political symbolism to celebrate not only who Shirley Chisholm was but who she is--a revolutionary thinker with much to teach us today.

In the midst of her groundbreaking twenty-year career in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once declared, "Everyone--with the exception of the black woman herself--has been interpreting the black woman." Edited by Zinga A. Fraser, the leading scholar dedicated to the study of Chisholm's legacy, Shirley Chisholm in Her Own Words gives readers a rare opportunity to engage with the congresswoman's powerful ideas in her own voice.

Many Americans are familiar with Chisholm's importance as the first Black woman in Congress and the first woman and African American to run for president with either major party. This long-overdue treatment of her work establishes Chisholm as an unparalleled public intellectual and Black feminist both in her time and now. The book not only contextualizes the Civil Rights and Black Power era; it also provides timeless insights on issues that are exceedingly relevant in our current moment. Featuring a captivating introduction by Fraser, Shirley Chisholm in Her Own Words introduces a new generation to one of the most impactful proponents of democracy in America.

Shirley Chisholm was born to Caribbean immigrants in Brooklyn, New York. She ran for Congress in the newly drawn 12th District of New York in 1968 and became the first ever black woman to serve in Congress after an upset, grassroots-powered victory. She went on to run for president in 1972. While in Congress, she was instrumental in creating the national school lunch program, expanding the food stamp program, and establishing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Language: English
• Paperback: 304 pages
• ISBN-13: 9780520386983
• Item Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.6 inches
• BISAC: Politics, Society & Current Affairs, History, Political Fiction, Biography & Memoirs