Photo: Diana Levine/ Boston Globe
Ayanna Pressley, the first Black woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress, not only took the oath of office on the same day that Shirley Chisholm did in 1969, but she now works out of the same office that once belonged to the nation’s first Black congresswoman. Pressley called it “divine intervention.”
With congressional offices being assigned through a drawing, Congresswoman Katie Hill initially chose the lottery number of Chisholm’s old office, but decided to switch with Pressley.
Wow! TY Mommy for the extra bday luck! We just learned my Congressional Office designation will be #ShirleyChisholm ‘s former office. How’s that for divine intervention, AND the selflessness of my colleague @KatieHill4CA who drew a better lottery# but still wanted me to have it.
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) December 17, 2018
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Chisholm was elected as the nation’s first African American congresswoman in 1968 and was sworn into office 50 years ago this week. She also blazed a trail as the first woman and African American to seek a nomination for President of the United States from a major political party.
In a statement to HuffPost, Pressley shared: “Shirley Chisholm has been a shero of mine since I was a girl. Her commitment to fighting injustice and lifting up the voices of the disenfranchised is an inspiration and an example I hope to follow.”
Pressley added: “I am humbled to occupy the same space she did on Capitol Hill, and I am deeply thankful to my colleague, Congresswoman-elect Katie Hill of California, for so graciously offering to switch offices.”
Congresswoman Pressley, we’re sure the honorable Shirley Chisholm is smiling down on you!