She’s finally receiving her long-overdue recognition!
Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first Black woman to seek the presidential nomination of a major political party, is set to be posthumously honored with a Congressional Gold Medal. U.S. Rep Barbara Lee and U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler led the efforts of the bipartisan legislation to honor Chisholm. The Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act would commemorate her life and legacy, and Chisholm received the highest civilian honor in the nation.
“The Congressional Gold Medal serves as the nation’s highest expression of gratitude for distinguished service and achievements, and I see no one more deserving than Shirley Chisholm. It is critical for the next generation of leaders to see the first Black woman elected to Congress get the recognition that she deserves. Congresswoman Chisholm made history as the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and the first Black woman to run for President of the United States. To Mrs. C, thank you for being unbought and unbossed, for paving the way, and for being a catalyst for change,” said Congresswoman Lee via statement.
Chisholm was an advocate for civil rights and equality. She earned the nickname “Fighting Shirley. ” She served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she championed opportunities for underserved communities, gender and racial equity, and ending the Vietnam War. Chisholm’s groundbreaking achievements extend far beyond her political career, and her campaign slogan, “Unbought and Unbossed,” has remained a rallying cry for generations of women. While Chisholm passed away in 2005 at the age of 80, her work lives on, and the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act ensures that work will never be forgotten.
“Shirley Chisholm lived an honorable life of service and was a trailblazer who opened doors for generations of Black women and opened the imagination of what leadership looked like for our entire nation. Her extraordinary contributions to American history and progress deserve recognition, and today I am proud to stand with my colleagues in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle to have taken this step to celebrate her legacy, ensuring that future generation[s] of leaders never forget her courage, sacrifice, and patriotism,” said Senator Butler.
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Vice President Kamala Harris, who previously acknowledged how much Chisholm inspired her own political career, signed the bill to honor Chisholm with the Congressional Gold Medal, marking a full-circle moment for the first Black woman vice president. VP Harris said she “proudly” and “humbly” signed the bill, saying it had personal significance for her, The Grio reports.
“Shirley Chisholm opened doors for future generations with her brilliance and boldness. As President of the Senate, I was honored to sign the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, which grants the late Congresswoman Chisholm the highest civilian award Congress can bestow,” VP Harris captioned a post on social media.
Now, the bill will go to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. The honor comes on the heels of what would’ve been Chisholm’s 100th birthday this past November 30th. What a fitting tribute to Chisholm’s extraordinary life and lasting impact.
Cover photo: Shirley Chisholm to Be Posthumously Honored With Congressional Gold Medal/Photo credit: Bob Peterson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images