25 Inspirational Shirley Chisholm Quotes On Women & More
“Shirley Chisholm” by “GPA Photo Archive“, licensed under Public Domain Mark 1.0
Shirley Chisholm was a well-known politician, educator, and author in the United States. She was the first black woman elected to Congress in the United States. Chisholm was also the first African-American woman to run for Presidential elections and was nominated by the Democratic Party. She advocated for racial and gender equality during her time as a party member.
On November 30, 1924, Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1946, where she began her teaching career. Shirley also has a master’s degree from Columbia University and has worked as a consultant for the New York City Division of Day Care.
She died on January 1, 2005, at the age of 85. In 2015, the President of the United States awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. ‘Unbought and Unbossed’, her autobiography, exemplifies her outspoken advocacy for women and minorities during her seven terms in the United States House of Representatives.
Read through these powerful Shirley Chisholm quotes to get motivated and inspired.
Inspirational Shirley Chisholm Quotes
Defying all the odds of discrimination and racism, Shirley turned her difficulties into triumphs. She stood against all odds. Here are some inspirational Shirley Chisholm quotes.
“Defeat should not be the source of discouragement, but a stimulus to keep plotting.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“I have never cared too much what people say. What I am interested in is what they do.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“Be as bold as the first man or woman to eat an oyster.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“I am and always will be a catalyst for change.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“Don’t list to those who say YOU CAN’T. Listen to the voice inside yourself that says, I CAN.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
Shirley Chisholm Quotes On Women
Shirley continued to make this world a better place for women. She worked rigorously for the rights of women. Below are some Shirley Chisholm quotes about women and feminism.
“I’ve always met more discrimination being a woman than being Black.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
SOURCE: UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED
“The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, ‘It’s a girl.’”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
SOURCE: ANTHOLOGY : QUOTATIONS AND SAYINGS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR
“As there were no black Founding Fathers, there were no founding mothers – a great pity, on both counts.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“When I die, I want to be remembered as a woman who lived in the twentieth century and who dared to be a catalyst of change.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“At present, our country needs women’s idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“‘Liberty and justice for all’ were beautiful words, but the ugly fact was that liberty and justice were only for white males.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
SOURCE: UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED
Shirley Chisholm Quotes On Racism
Shirley always dreamt of the world free from all sorts of discrimination. Being a woman of color, she faced criticism and difficulties at almost every step. Yet, she stood firm. Here are some Shirley Chisholm quotes on racism.
“When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“Racism is so universal in this country, so widespread, and deep-seated, that it is invisible because it is so normal.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“We Americans have a chance to become someday a nation in which all racial stocks and classes can exist in their own selfhoods, but meet on a basis of respect and equality and live together, socially, economically, and politically.“
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“Unless we start to fight and defeat the enemies in our own country, poverty, and racism and make our talk of equality and opportunity ring true, we are exposed in the eyes of the world as hypocrites when we talk about making people free.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“The Constitution they wrote was designed to protect the rights of white, male citizens.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“I ran for the presidency, despite hopeless odds, to demonstrate the sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
“All we want is for the trivial difference to make no difference.”
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM
Chisholm talked a lot about the chances that she and other marginalized people were denied because they didn’t look like everyone else. She influenced people’s ideas and attitudes all around the country. She will be remembered as a champion of human rights and dignity for the rest of her life.
Hopefully, these Shirley Chisholm quotes above will motivate you to fight for what you believe in all of your life.
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