Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s Portrait Unveiled

Portrait painted by artist Kadir Nelson
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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Recently, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairwoman Barbara Lee, Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus held a portrait unveiling ceremony for the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.

In 1968, Chisholm became the first African-American woman elected to Congress. Chisholm helped found the CBC in 1969 with Congressmen John Conyers and Charlie Rangel. There were 13 members total.

According to Nancy Pelosi, “Less than a year before she died, Congresswoman Chisholm was asked how she wanted to be remembered. She said then, ‘I want history to remember me not just as the first black woman to be elected to Congress, not as the first black woman to have made a bid for the presidency of the United States, but as a black woman who lived in the 20th century and dared to be herself. I want to be remembered as a catalyst for change in America.’”

Tags: Barbara Lee, Congressional Black Caucus, Kadir Nelson, nancy pelosi, shirley chisholm, Yvette Clarke

Category: Art, HISTORY, POLITICS