Shirley Chisholm

“Of my two "handicaps" being female put more obstacles in my path than being black.”(Lewis) These are the words of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to run for, and win a seat in Congress.  Shirley Chisholm was born on November 30, 1924 to West Indian Immigrant parents, she was the eldest of four children.  Shirley Chisholm like many women, of all races, was determined to tear down stereotypes about women and what their rolls should be.

             Shirley completed school and even earned degree, graduating cum laude from Brooklyn College in 1946, she worked for a daycare as a teacher, and later a director.    She then met and married her first husband, Conrad Chisholm; a Jamaican private investigator, after her divorce from him she married Arthur Hardwick Jr., a Buffalo businessman who later died. Chisholm never remarried nor had kids after the death of her second husband. Mrs. Chisholm began her political career with winning a seat in the state assembly, and four years later winning a seat in Congress in 1968. (Black)  During this time a woman was still considered “incompetent” and was only meant to work in the home. 

            Shirley was introduced to politics through her first husband, Conrad Chisholm, she attended various political events with him and it immediately gained her interest.  Naturally, Mrs. Chisholm began focusing on women’s rights.  One of her very first achievements as a member of Congress was the National Organization for Women. Shirley Chisholm stands out not only because she was a woman in a “man’s world”, but because she was an African American woman.  The fact that Shirley Chisholm was an African American did not discourage her, as she explained in this 1969 quotation.  “Prejudice against blacks is becoming unacceptable although it will take years to eliminate it. But it is doomed because, slowly, white America is beginning to admit that it exists. Prejudice against women is still acceptable. There is very little understanding yet of the immorality involved in double pay scales and the classification of most of the better jobs as "for men only." (Lewis) 

Ms. Chisholm and Her Organizations

After her political career Shirley Chisholm became heavily involved in the organizations that she had founded and had long been a member of.  Some of these organizations include Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Political Congress of Black Women, Congressional Black Caucus, The Unity Democratic Club, and was even inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.  These organizations which were founded on great leadership and equality beliefs are still around today and hold the same standards as they did when they were originally founded.

            Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is a sorority founded in 1913 and the founding members believed in five main points, which are known as the Five Point Programmatic Thrust.  The Five Point Programmatic Thrust includes: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.  Delta Sigma Theta sorority has been around almost a century and they are still a force to be reckoned with even here at the University of Southern Mississippi.  (ΔΣΘ)

            The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is an organization founded in 1909 based on the idea  that all American citizens should be granted political, educational, social, and economic equality.  (NAACP)  The NAACP (as it is called) was founded by numerous individuals along with Chisholm including, WEB Dubois, and Ida Bell Barnett just to name a few.  As of today, there are thousands of chapters of NAACP across the country, even one on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. 

            National Political Congress of Black Women, was an organization founded by Chisholm that encourages the political empowerment of African American women through education and voter rights. (NCBW) The National Political Congress of Black Women was founded in 1985 to promote the advancement of African American women and their families.  This organization continues to do so in various states across the nation.  The Congressional Black Caucus, which is much like the National Political Congress of Black Women, was another organization partly founded by Chisholm founded in 1971 by African American members of congress.  These African Americans aimed to positively influence African Americans in politics. 

            The Unity Democratic Club, was the very first organization that was founded MAINLY by Chisholm herself, it was her “baby”.  The Unity Democratic club was founded in 1960, and it focused on mobilizing Hispanic and African American voters.  It was this organization alone that proved to Americans how much she cared about what the people thought.  Her motto was UNBOSSED AND UNBOUGHT and that was true in every thing that she did.  She did not do things because she was told to do so or because she was paid to do so, she did it because it is what she wanted to do and that speaks volumes to her strength. 

ALL NIGHTERS!!!!

                                       photos courtesy of http://www.freestockimages.org   Hope all is well, school is going great, mid terms are right around the corner and lately that has been my main focus.  Mid terms and finals are the time of year when students utilize the studying facilities that Southern Miss provides.  These facilities include the lobbies of the residence halls, Cook Library, the Rha center, and local business often extend their business hours to allow loyal USM students a place to study.  It has always been an issue for me to sit in my room, and study for hours.  I am the type of student who needs a little variety in where I study and I know there are others out there that feel the same, so I encourage you to find a few study spots and get to it!
    Also, here a few study tips to help you along the way:
           1. TURN OFF THE COMPUTER it is the number one distraction!
           2. Have snacks on hand so that there is no reason to leave!
           3. Take small breaks, Rome wasn't built in a day!
           4. Read for comprehension, not just to finish.
           5. use both the text and your notes.
For addition study tips visit http://www.studytips.org/
If you apply these and other tips to your daily/weekly/monthly study habits, you will go far!
Good Luck!