Congresswoman Brown Honors Shirley Chisholm on House Floor

Washington, DC – This week, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) delivered remarks celebrating the legacy of the Honorable Shirley Chisholm and the House passed legislation to award Chisholm the Congressional Gold Medal. Chisholm made history as the first Black woman to serve in Congress in 1969 and as the first Black woman to run for President as a major party candidate in 1972. 

Congresswoman Brown delivered her remarks as part of a Congressional Black Caucus Special Order Hour Tuesday recognizing Chisholm’s 100^th Birthday. On Wednesday the House unanimously passed The Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 4243). This legislation, which passed the Senate last week, posthumously awards Chisholm the Congressional Gold Medal. It now heads to President Biden for his signature. 

Since 1776, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. 

Congresswoman Brown’s Remarks as Delivered (Youtube): 

Thank you, thank you, thank you Shield Cherfilus-McCormick, the gentlelady from Florida for your recognition. 

And thank you for pulling the CBC together for this Special Order Hour, along with my colleague from Illinois, Mr. Jonathan Jackson. 

I am honored to join my CBC colleagues in recognition of the 100^th Birthday of the great Shirley Chisholm here in the House Chamber. 

And it’s so appropriate that we are here, because this is one of the places where Shirley made history.

On January 3, 1969… she was the first Black woman to walk into this Chamber as a member of Congress. 

That was the 91^st Congress of the United States. 

Meaning that the first 90 Congresses… dating back to 1789… had not featured a Black woman. 

And of course, most Congresses had not featured many women… or many Black representatives at all. 

In fact, the same day that Congresswoman Chisholm was sworn in… 

…my predecessor representing Northeast Ohio, the Honorable Louis Stokes… another founding member of the CBC… also took office… 

Being the first Black member of Congress from Ohio, after 166 years of statehood.  

That is why I have so much pride when I look at my colleagues. 

Because we are here now.

And it started with Shirley Chisholm. 

And Shirley Chisholm served, legislated, and lived, like she was making up for lost time. 

Making up for all the times that people like her had been shut out of the conversation… or left out of the room.

That’s why her legacy is so strong today. 

She wasn’t just A First… she wasn’t just a historical footnote… she was a fighter. 

Shirley Chisholm was someone who came here on Day One and demanded to be heard and demanded that her constituents be heard. 

So she fought, unbought and unbossed…

For nutrition benefits for people in need…

For child care...

For universal health care…

And for justice for Black women and Black Americans and all people in this country. 

And these fights are not over. 

As we head into a new Congress next year, along with a new President… it is clear that many of these same battles will be fought anew. 

Therefore, as we celebrate Congresswoman Chisholm’s 100^th Birthday, let us also all draw strength from her example and the courage to carry on her legacy. 

And with that Mr. Speaker, I yield back. 

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