Three starred reviews!
âHistory shinesâ (School Library Journal, starred review) in this inspirational, âvibrantly colored, boisterous, and well-pacedâ (Booklist, starred review) picture book biography of trailblazer Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman in Congress and the first woman and African American to enter the Democratic presidential race, by award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome.
Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York, where her immigrant parents scraped and saved while Shirley learned all the love in the world couldnât pay the rent. Her father encouraged her ambition early on, telling her, âGod gave you a brain, use it.â Shirley worked hard and landed a full scholarship to Brooklyn College where she started advocating for people like her by starting a club for Black women.
When her political science professor told her she should go into politics, Shirley paid attention. She broke new ground and heard âGo home to your husbandâ and âYou donât belong hereâ when she was campaigning. But that didnât stop her; in fact, it made her work harder until she became the first African American woman in Congress in 1968, where she ended up serving seven terms, and advocated for important bills such as the Equal Rights Amendment. She even sought the nomination for president of the United States in 1972.
Shirley Chisholmâs life and legacy served as a catalyst for progress in America and changed the world.