"A timely, detailed, and inspiring book that helps maintain the intellectual legacy of Shirley Chisholm. The
book reveals new dimensions of the congresswoman's politics, activism, and spirit."âRegina King, Academy
Awardâwinning actor and star of Shirley
Looking beyond her political symbolism to celebrate not only who Shirley Chisholm was but who she isâa
revolutionary thinker with much to teach us today.
In the midst of her groundbreaking twenty-year career in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman
Shirley Chisholm once declared, "Everyoneâwith the exception of the black woman herselfâhas been
interpreting the black woman." Edited by Zinga A. Fraser, the leading scholar dedicated to the study of
Chisholm's legacy, Shirley Chisholm in Her Own Words gives readers a rare opportunity to engage with the
congresswoman's powerful ideas in her own voice.
Many Americans are familiar with Chisholm's importance as the first Black woman in Congress and the first
woman and African American to run for president with either major party. This long-overdue treatment of her
work establishes Chisholm as an unparalleled public intellectual and Black feminist both in her time and now.
The book not only contextualizes the Civil Rights and Black Power era; it also provides timeless insights on
issues that are exceedingly relevant in our current moment. Featuring a captivating introduction by Fraser,
Shirley Chisholm in Her Own Words introduces a new generation to one of the most impactful proponents of
democracy in America.