Explore the groundbreaking career of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to seek the U.S. presidency.
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first Black woman to run for U.S. president. This Retro Report documentary chronicles Chisholm’s journey from Brooklyn to Capitol Hill, where, as the first Black woman elected to Congress, she overcame sexism and racism as an outspoken advocate for racial equality, women’s rights and social justice.
Known for her slogan “Unbought and Unbossed,” Chisholm’s candidacy challenged institutions long dominated by white men, and inspired women and people of color to follow her lead.
“Shirley was always representing what she experienced in her own life,” said Gloria Steinem, the feminist leader who worked closely with her. “Her vision of what could be was in advance of all the people around her.”
Chisholm’s pioneering influence was clear in the 2020 Democratic primary when Vice President Kamala Harris launched her first presidential run, acknowledging, “I stand, as so many of us do, on her shoulders.”
View transcript here.
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