From award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome comes an inspirational
picture book biography of trailblazer Shirley Chisholm, the first
African American woman in Congress and the first woman and African
American to enter the Democratic presidential race.
Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York, where her immigrant
parents scraped and saved while Shirley learned all the love in the
world couldn't pay the rent. Her father encouraged her ambition early
on, telling her, "God gave you a brain, use it." Shirley worked hard and
landed a full scholarship to Brooklyn College where she started
advocating for people like her by starting a club for Black women.
When her political science professor told her she should go into
politics, Shirley paid attention. She broke new ground and heard "Go
home to your husband" and "You don't belong here" when she was
campaigning. But that didn't stop her; in fact, it made her work harder
until she became the first African American woman in Congress in 1968,
where she ended up serving seven terms, and advocated for important
bills such as the Equal Rights Amendment. She even sought the nomination
for president of the United States in 1972.
Shirley Chisholm's life and legacy served as a catalyst for progress in
America and changed the world.