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NYC Council declares Nov. 30 ‘Shirley Chisholm Day’ to honor trailblazing politician
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 18, 2024
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Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 18, 2024
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New Yorkers will now commemorate the life of Shirley Chisholm — the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first woman to seek the Democratic presidential nomination — every year on Nov. 30.
The New York City Council passed a resolution Monday designating the day as "Shirley Chisholm Day" to honor the Bedford-Stuyvesant resident and political pioneer. The move comes ahead of what would have been Chisholm’s 100th birthday on Nov. 30.
Chisholm, who died in 2005, represented Brooklyn's 12th Congressional District, which covered much of Bedford-Stuyvesant, for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. Her legacy has been celebrated in recent years with various honors, including a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded in 2015 and a statue in Prospect Park approved by city officials.
Brooklyn Councilmember Farah Louis, who sponsored the resolution, emphasized the importance of Chisholm’s legacy in inspiring the next generation of leaders, adding it would “show young women in our city, particularly Black women and women of color, that their dreams are valid and their voices matter.”
“This legislation is more than a recognition – but an affirmation – of the contribution of Shirley Anita Chisholm, who unlocked and opened doors for generations of political leaders who were excluded simply for being Black,” Louis said.
The City Council's action follows the recent election, in which Kamala Harris — the first Black woman elected to be vice president — lost her presential election bid to Donald Trump. Harris received more than twice as many votes as Trump in New York City.
Tagged
new york city
Race And Justice Unit
Politics
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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