I never knew this...

[elisi]

Before Hillary Clinton, there was Shirley Chisholm

Decades before Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, there was Shirley Chisholm. As the first black woman to run for president for a major political party she was years ahead of her time. So why don't more people know about her?

Comments

[yourlibrarian]

"I met more discrimination as a woman than for being black. Men are men," she once said.

That doesn't surprise me. I do remember Shirley and suspect that a lot of the reason why she was forgotten was that she never got as much media attention at the time as she deserved. Even today one can see how the media dismisses, right from the start, candidates they think have no chance of winning. The early coverage of Sanders' candidacy was downright insulting. It wasn't until he started making public appearances and drawing big crowds that they had to backtrack a bit, though they still focused more on his appearance than his politics.

This part though, I didn't know:

Shirley Chisholm survived several assassination attempts

I was pretty young at the time of her campaign

[elisi]

That doesn't surprise me.
Me neither. :(

I do remember Shirley and suspect that a lot of the reason why she was forgotten was that she never got as much media attention at the time as she deserved. Even today one can see how the media dismisses, right from the start, candidates they think have no chance of winning.
I really wish Andrew Sullivan was still around...

though they still focused more on his appearance than his politics.
Good thing he's not a woman, I suppose. Which is a sad thing to have to say. (My next post might interest you, considering how it'll be about how entrenched sexism is in society, although it'll focus on Torchwood.

And I'm sadly not surprised that they tried to kill her. Us women must be very dangerous.

[yourlibrarian]

Has he retired completely? I knew he was going to stop being an independent blogger but I assumed he was going to do some less demanding work.

Possibly, yes. Sanders has acknowledged there's a big push to make Elizabeth Warren his running mate. I do think she might be doing equally well but it's hard to say. The key time is when the ballot box is open -- will that enthusiasm translate to votes?

I look forward to your post!

Although my memories of her campaign are non-existent, she was still in government until I'd graduated high school. Although there were assassination attempts against presidents later, it seems like the mid 60s to 70s were a big time for that here against political figures and reformers. Given she had three strikes against her I suppose it would almost be more surprising if none had occurred.

[elisi]

Has he retired completely? I knew he was going to stop being an independent blogger but I assumed he was going to do some less demanding work.
Well, I don't know what he's doing, but dammit, I wish he'd weigh in on the current election cycle.

The key time is when the ballot box is open -- will that enthusiasm translate to votes?
That's always the question... And to be honest, I'll be happy with Hillary. Anyone not a Republican can run the country from where I'm sitting.

Given she had three strikes against her I suppose it would almost be more surprising if none had occurred.
Yeah, sad but true.

(Oh and post posted. In case you're curious.)

[petzipellepingo]

Years ago, I went to my cousin's college graduation and Shirley Chisholm with the guest speaker. She so impressed me that when she ran for President I voted for her although I knew she'd never win.

[elisi]

Years ago, I went to my cousin's college graduation and Shirley Chisholm with the guest speaker.
!!!!! I am very impressed with *you*!

[petzipellepingo]

It was sooo much better than my guest speaker (Clifford Wharton) who almost put me into a coma.

[elisi]

I still remember the chap who spoke at Darcy's graduation. Can't remember his name, but it was a good speech.

[ragnarok_08]

I've heard about Shirley Chisholm, and she sounds like she was ahead of her time, especially in those days. She was quite remarkable.

[elisi]

She really was. Am hoping more people will become aware of her.

[cynthia2015]

I recently heard about Shirley Chisholm from a local news program. I wish it had made more coverage. I did Modern history in high school and the main topics were about the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process or the JFK Assassination.

[elisi]

The things they cover in history are... very odd. I wish they could be broader.

[cynthia2015]

If Aboriginal history was taught in Australian schools on a wider scale, maybe there would be less racism and ignorance of Indigenous culture and diversity. I'm only aware of some historical events because I'm curious to understand why there is still an issue. It's mainly left up to the government to make up for the past.

[elisi]

If Aboriginal history was taught in Australian schools on a wider scale, maybe there would be less racism and ignorance of Indigenous culture and diversity.
This is true everywhere. When people don't know history, they're bound to repeat is. :(

[a_phoenixdragon]

Wow..I didn't know about her!! It was the time before I was truly political. Wow. That sucks all around.

[elisi]

Well, she did a lot of good. Here's to her memory!