STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If you are an artist passionate about shedding light on the important women often forgotten by history, you may be a great fit for a new opportunity from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA).
As a part of the She Built NYC program, which is an initiative to commemorate women who had an astonishing impact on the city, the DCLA is working on creating and displaying monuments of significant women across all the boroughs.
So far, four out of five boroughs have completed monuments of legendary women: Elizabeth Jennings Graham in Manhattan, Billie Holiday in Queens, Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías in the Bronx and Katherine Walker on Staten Island. Now, it’s Brooklyn’s turn to join in on the movement.
A monument of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to serve on the United States Congress is in the process of creation in Brooklyn. Not only was she elected to Congress in 1968, but she was also the first African American woman to receive a presidential nomination from one of the two prominent political parties in 1972.
She was born in Brooklyn in 1924 and devoted her life to uplifting and fighting for women and minority groups while facing her own adversities. Before her political career, Chisholm joined her local chapters of the League of Women Voters, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Urban League and the Democratic Party club.
After running for and successfully becoming the second African American woman in the New York State Legislature in 1964. When she later earned a seat on Congress, the trailblazing Brooklynite became known as “Fighting Shirley.” During her 15-year congressional career, Chisholm introduced over 50 legislations that promoted gender and racial equality, aid for the poor and the end of the Vietnam War.
She co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971 and became the first Black woman and second woman ever to serve on the House Rules Committee in 1977. Despite all her success, Chisholm was discriminated against and was blocked from participating in televised primary debates when she was nominated.
Even post-retirement, Chisholm’s work was far from done. She went on to teach at Mount Holyoke College and later co-founded the National Political Congress of Black Women. She passed away in 2005.
Even though Fighting Shirley passed away nearly two decades ago, her impact on New York City and the overall country lingers on. The She Built NYC program demonstrates her powerful legacy.
Anyone interested in using their talent to honor Chisholm should submit work samples and supplementary materials to the DCLA. Applications are due December 31, 2024.
