Step into history on a walking tour of Crown Heights, home to trailblazer Shirley Chisholm

Chisholm — an iconic figure in American politics — left her mark not only on Brooklyn, where she spent much of her life, but on the nation as a whole. Born in Brooklyn in 1924 to immigrant parents from Barbados and Guyana, Chisholm grew up in a working-class neighborhood, experiencing firsthand the struggles of marginalized communities. This upbringing instilled in her a passion for social justice and fueled her determination to challenge the status quo.

Chisholm made history in 1968 when she became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, representing New York’s 12th congressional district, encompassing parts of Brooklyn. Throughout her seven terms in Congress, she fearlessly advocated for the rights of women, minorities, and the economically disadvantaged. She co-founded both the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Organization for Women (NOW), highlighting her commitment to intersectional feminism and equality for all.

In 1972, Chisholm shattered yet another glass ceiling by becoming the first African American woman to seek a major party nomination for president of the United States, running as a candidate for the Democratic Party. Though her presidential campaign faced significant obstacles and she ultimately did not secure the nomination, her candidacy paved the way for future generations of women and people of color in politics.