The Rabbi, A Farmer, and Shirley Chisholm
How real diversity and inclusion benefit us all
Shirley Chisolm is an American hero and icon.
She was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1969, representing part of Brooklyn, New York, including parts of an area known as Crown Heights.
Most people don’t know this about her, but Chisolm was also the first Black person to run for a major party’s nomination for president of the United States against Democrat George McGovern and the first woman to participate in a presidential debate.
In her nearly quarter century in Congress, Chisolm was a relentless champion for social justice.
She co-sponsored a bipartisan bill in 1971 that would have ensured health insurance coverage for every American. She paved the way for federal funds for child care services. She knew that the working poor and middle class needed more than grandparents to just help out.
Chisolm was instrumental in pushing through a minimum wage bill for domestic workers.
She also worked tirelessly to improve economic opportunities for inner-city residents. As a cornerstone of those efforts, she advocated for increased spending on education. She also focused much energy on land rights for Native…
