Courses/Lectures
Each of the 34 courses available can be enrolled in individually, or in packages. Each course is an approximately 1-hour session that consists of the opportunity for the students to interact with the associated artifacts, and a discussion exercise tailored for your specific class in accordance with your teacher's curriculum/recommendations. If the Course List below doesn’t fit your needs, we can work together to develop the presentation you desire – from control of the discussion topics to selection of items to be presented.
Shirley Chisholm:
Before Her Time
Before Hillary Clinton there was Shirley Chisholm. An intelligent, strong willed politician, Shirley went from day care provider to the first Black female member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1968 and, in 1972, became the first black candidate – male or female and the first female of any color to mount a serious major party campaign for the President of the United States. Her efforts bucked traditions and raised expectations for what could be possible for women and minorities in the political process. This collection contains items that help take a closer look at Chisholm and her historic campaign.
Artifacts: Signed photo, four (4) campaign buttons, presidential campaign top, cut signature of Shirley Chisholm, Jet magazines from 1968 and 1972.
Jet Magazine, Shirley Chisholm on the Cover, 1968 - When Shirley Chisholm graced the cover of Jet In 1968, it was to celebrate her victory as the first African-American woman, and one of the earliest women, to be elected to U.S. Congress. She represented New York City, as an educator that wanted to see change in the political process after her experience as a daycare provider. This article chronicles her journey, and some of the adversity she faced in making history.
"Chisholm is Tops for America" Campaign Top, 1972 - After making history as the first African-American woman elected to Congress, Shirley Chisholm was far from satisfied. In 1972, after having served only 4 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Chisholm shocked the political world when she announced that she would be running for the office of President of the United States. Shock would quickly be replaced with fear for some, as her candidacy gained legitimacy through her hard work and the support of her campaign management team, made up mostly of women, many of which were African-American. She refused to back down, even when confronted with the lack of support from most of the African-American male politicians, who instead threw their support behind other "more established" candidates. Despite not winning the election, Shirley's campaign made history as the first serious campaign made by a female of any color, and African-American of any gender, as a major party candidate - paving the way for both historic campaigns by Barack Obama, and the hsitorica campaign of Hillary Clinton. Above, is an original campaign top from Chisholm's historic presidential run of 1972.