SR52sFEB18

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending February 18, 2005

Senate Resolution 52 honoring Shirley Chisolm for her service to the nation and expressing condolences to her family, friends and supporters on her death

BRIEF

Fitting that Congress should honor, in her passing, the memory of Shirley Chisolm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress. Born in 1924 Ms. Chisolm began her political career in Bedford – Stuyvesant, New York City in 1949 and made it to Congress in 1968.

Ms Chisolm co-founded the National Organization of Women and co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus. She received 151 as a presidential candidate from delegates at the 1972 Democratic convention.

She died at age 80 on January 1, 2005.

Sponsor: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)

Vote: Agreed to in Senate without recorded vote. (Feb 14, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

S. Res. 52

Whereas Shirley Chisholm was born Shirley Anita St. Hill on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, to Charles and Ruby St. Hill, immigrants from British Guyana and Barbados;

Whereas in 1949, Shirley Chisholm was a founding member of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Political League;

Whereas in 1960, she established the Unity Democratic Club, which was instrumental in mobilizing black and Hispanic voters;

Whereas in 1964, Chisholm ran for a New York State Assembly seat and won;

Whereas in 1968, Chisholm became the first African-American woman elected to Congress, representing New York's Twelfth Congressional District;

Whereas as a member of Congress, Chisholm hired women only for her staff, was an advocate for civil rights, women's rights, and the poor, and spoke out against the Vietnam War;

Whereas Shirley Chisholm co-founded the National Organization for Women;

Whereas she remained an outspoken advocate of women's rights throughout her career, saying, ``Women in this country must become revolutionaries. We must refuse to accept the old, the traditional roles and stereotypes.'';

Whereas in 1969, Shirley Chisholm, along with other African-American members of Congress, founded the Congressional Black Caucus;

Whereas on January 25, 1972, Chisholm announced her candidacy for President and became the first African-American to be considered for the presidential nomination by a major national political party;

Whereas although Chisholm did not win the nomination at the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami, she received the votes of 151 delegates;

Whereas Shirley Chisholm served 7 terms in the House of Representatives before retiring from politics in 1982;

Whereas Shirley Chisholm was a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and received the sorority's highest award, the Mary Church Terrell Award, in 1977 for her political activism and contributions to the Civil Rights Movement;

Whereas Shirley Chisholm was a model public servant and an example for African-American women, and her strength and perseverance serve as an inspiration for all people striving for change; and

Whereas on January 1, 2005, Shirley Chisholm died at the age of 80: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) honors Shirley Chisholm for her service to the Nation, her work to improve the lives of women and minorities, her steadfast commitment to demonstrating the power of compassion, and her dedication to justice and equality; and

(2) expresses its deepest condolences to her family, friends, and supporters.

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