By Serena Edwards
Shirley Chisholm Day was held on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Brooklyn College to commemorate the revolutionary figure’s 100th birthday. A BC alum from the class of 1946, the event honored Chisholm’s legacy at BC and beyond. The event was co-sponsored by the Africana Studies Department, the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, and the Wolfe Institute.
Shirley Chisholm was an activist and trailblazer who, during her time, defied many stereotypes against women of color. She was the first Black woman elected into Congress in 1968 and subsequently the first Black woman to campaign for the presidential nomination in 1972. She is often referred to for her empowering words on advocacy and enacting change.
As an assemblywoman, Chisholm helped pass the Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) program that helps students academically, socially, and financially by providing support during their matriculation–a program that still provides services to CUNY and SUNY schools today.
Zinga Fraser, professor of Africana Studies and director of the Shirley Chisholm Project at BC, introduced the event with Chisholm’s legacy.
“[This event] comes at a time where so much of what Chisholm stood for is and was on the line,” Fraser noted in reference to the recent election.
Guest speakers from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated were also present to commemorate Chisholm, who became a member of Delta Sigma Theta in 1969. Kenya Johnson, the president of the Brooklyn Alumnae chapter, spoke about how Chisholm’s trailblazing representation changed the course of life for many. “If Shirley Chisholm hadn’t opened that door, many would not be here today.”
“When I think of Shirley Chisholm and the honorable woman she was, I think of her strife and bravery,” Hibba, a second-year student at BC who was only referred to by her first name, stated during the event. She discussed Chisholm’s fight for not only women in America, but women around the world. “Always advocating for women, children, and any type of people struggling reminds us of our human duty to use our freedoms to fight for the freedoms of others.”
Every year on Shirley Chisholm Day, awards are given to those who have embodied Chisholm through their work. The recipients of the awards this year were Hazel Nell Dukes, the president of the New York State chapter of the NAACP, for her activist work and impact on the organization.
Other award recipients were Regina and Reina King, producers of “Shirley”, a film released on Netflix this past March that details Chisholm’s experience running for president. Regina King additionally starred as Chisholm in the movie. Each of the recipients expressed how Chisholm’s impact on society has been overlooked, and Reina King discussed the importance of keeping Chisholm’s legacy alive and her production in the film.
“There’s so many people that don’t know who Shirley is and I was angry about that,” she stated. Regarding the importance of showing the film, King added, “Now this movie is there that can be shown in school and colleges and keep living on.”