As the 118th Congress comes to an end with a final rush of bills, bipartisan legislation honoring the late Shirley Chisholm, the country’s first Black congresswoman, was signed into law last week.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, posthumously presenting Congress’ highest distinction for Chisholm’s outstanding accomplishments and devotion. Chisholm passed away in 2005.
Sen. Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, and Rep. Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California, were the bill’s two primary sponsors when Vice President Kamala Harris, in her capacity as Senate president, signed the law a few days before.
In a statement, Lee said it was a privilege to be with Vice President Kamala Harris when she signed this landmark legislation. when a college student and when Lee developed her own public service career, Chisholm became a mentor to Lee.
“I don’t think anyone is more worthy than Shirley Chisholm,” Lee continued. It is imperative that the first elected Black woman in Congress receive the acknowledgment she merits in order to inspire the next generation of leaders.
Chisholm created an imprint on our country’s history that deserves its own acknowledgment, according to Butler, who resigned from her position last week to make room for incoming Sen. Adam Schiff.
Butler continued by praising Chisholm’s leadership, patriotism, and dedication to our country, saying that she had earned it via her service to both New York and our country.
The Act states that the U.S. Treasury Department is in charge of designing and minting the gold medal, which will bear Chisholm’s name, portrait, and appropriate emblems and inscriptions. It will be donated to the Smithsonian Institution and made accessible for exhibition at Chisholm-related events and venues. It is possible to mint duplicates and offer them for sale.
Chisholm was born on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Caribbean immigrants with ancestry from Barbados and Guyana.
She worked in social services and education after graduating from Brooklyn College with an undergraduate degree and Columbia University with a master’s. Later, Chisholm would run for a position in the New York State Assembly, where she was elected as the state’s second Black lawmaker in 1964. She was a founding member of the National Organization for Women two years later.
The activist endured mockery and threats when she made the decision to run for Congress, but her unwavering campaigning enabled Fighting Shirley, whose catchphrase was “Unbought and Unbossed,” earn a seat in 1968. She immediately gained a reputation as an outspoken supporter of gender equality, civil rights, and elevating the weak and disenfranchised after taking office.
Over the course of seven terms, the Democrat introduced about 50 pieces of legislation, ranging from supporting child support and immigration reform to securing federal lands for Native American tribes. She advocated for causes including ending the Vietnam War and giving families safety nets like food stamps. Working with colleagues like Republican Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, she helped create the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, while she was a member of the Agriculture Committee.
When Chisholm ran for president of the United States in 1972, she made history once more. This time, she was the first Black woman and candidate to run for the presidency of a major political party.
The politician moved to Florida after retiring in 1983. A decade later, she was tapped by President Bill Clinton to serve as his administration s ambassador to Jamaica, but health challengesreportedlyprevented the appointment. She passed away on New Year’s Day, 2005, at the age of 80. She is buried close to her husband, Arthur Hardwick, a former state assemblyman, in Buffalo, New York.
The same year of her passing, then-Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. who along with Chisholm co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus introduced the first of severalbillsdesigned to celebrate her life and legacy. Lee subsequently introduced a series of congressional measures to honor Chisholm.
During aCBC Special Order Hourthis month on the House floor, Lee recounted those efforts years ago. As members considered an earlier resolution to honor Chisholm before her death, Lee called her mentor from the House cloakroom and urged her to watch the proceedings on C-Span. Lee recalled that Chisholm was distressed initially as votes were being tallied, asking her, Barbara, where are the Republicans? I worked very closely with the Republicans constantly
Quickly reassured that there were GOP members on board, Lee said Chisholm was relieved. I mean, that is just how serious she took her bipartisan work.
Now, in this year that commemorates Chisholm s 100th birthday, support for the gold medal came from both sides of the aisle.
Besides Lee, the bill was led in the House by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., as well as members who included Maxine Waters, D-Calif., Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., and Byron Donalds, R-Fla.
The Senate s companion legislation was introduced by Butler and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and passed with bipartisan support. In both chambers, Democrats, Republicans and independents voted for it.
During the CBC event, member after member stood to share fond memories of Chisholm. Several younger representatives, among them Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., and Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, paid their respect and gratitude.
I can t help but think that Shirley Chisholm is looking down at all of us and saying how proud she is that we have gotten here, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, D-Fla., told colleagues that evening. We have a lot of work to do. What she started has to be finished, I hope by our generation. By working together, and all of us recognizing her hard work on both sides.
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