Special to the Trice Edney News-wire from Blackmansstreet.com
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – President Joe Biden described slavery as “our nation’s original sin — original sin — one that haunted America and casts a long shadow ever since,” during a speech before officials of the National Slavery Museum in Belas, Angola.
Estimates of the number of slaves shipped from Angola range from 2 million to 6 million. Most were shipped to America. “From the bloody Civil War that nearly tore my nation apart to the long battle with Jim Crow into the 1960s for the civil rights and voting rights movement — which got me involved in public life — during which American cities were burned, to the still unfinished reckoning with racial injustice in my country today,” President Biden said.
President Biden spoke because Angola played a significant role as one of the primary sources of enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade, with estimates suggesting that nearly half of all enslaved Africans sent to the Americas originated from Angolan ports, primarily due to the Portuguese colonial control of the region and their heavy involvement in the slave trade; making Luanda, Angola, the capital, a major slave-trading hub.
Some estimates say that 45% of enslaved Africans sent to the Americas came from Angola. Historians believe that Angola was the largest source of slaves for the Americas by the 19th century from 1760 to 1860.
The period was crucial in the history of the slave trade because it marked a significant expansion of slavery in the American South, primarily due to the rise of cotton production, which relied heavily on enslaved labor, leading to a large increase in the domestic slave trade within the United States even after the international slave trade was outlawed in 1808; this period also saw growing abolitionist movements fighting against the institution of slavery.
The first enslaved Africans to arrive in the U.S. came from Angola, landing at Point Comfort, Virginia in 1619.
Civil rights leaders are decrying President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, and the implications for Black communities and other marginalized groups. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate as assistant attorney general of the civil rights office, Dhillon, a conservative attorney, will have the authority to enforce — or not — federal statutes related to discrimination based on race, sex, disability, religion, or national origin.
Given Trump’s pronouncements, Project 2025‘s proposals, and Dhillon’s legal record, the Civil Rights Division will likely abandon its tradition of combating racial bias and instead use the federal office to defend civil liberties and freedom of speech on behalf of conservatives.
“With the selection of Harmeet Dhillon — who has shown more interest in divisiveness rather than defending constitutional rights — the incoming administration has made clear that civil rights enforcement will be under attack from within,” said Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Dhillon, who served in leadership roles in the California Republican Party and Republican National Committee, has dedicated her career to conservative legal issues through her legal firm and nonprofit, Center for American Liberty. Wiley said that Dhillon, who legally advised Trump’s failed 2020 campaign and defended his false claims of voter fraud, has worked to “restrict” voting access, which has been a major concern for Black voters amid a flurry of racial gerrymandering cases over the years, rather than “fighting to expand voting access.”
“Instead of defending election results and demonstrating concern for free and fair elections, for example, she helped fuel the big lie in many forms, challenging election results on several occasions based on misrepresentations and outright lies,” said Wiley.
Jamarr Brown, executive director of Color of Change PAC, told theGrio that Dhillon’s nomination is “keeping with the theme of Donald Trump,” which is to hire individuals who will be “loyal to him.” Selecting Dhillon, he said, shows the president-elect has “no regard for what the true purpose of the Department of Justice is, particularly the Civil Rights Division.”
“These loyalists are going to implement Trump’s agenda – the Project 2025 agenda – which is also about ‘law and order,’” said Brown. He continued, “It’s going to eliminate DEI programs. It’s Under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, the first woman and Black woman to hold the office, the DOJ Civil Rights Division has steadily filed lawsuits challenging voting rights laws it says discriminate against Black and brown voters. The division also launched federal investigations of police departments accused of racial bias and brutality; and prosecuted individuals charged for committing violent crimes, including the 2022 mass shooting of 10 Black Americans at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York.
Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson told theGrio he believes the fight to protect civil rights in this country is headed for a “rough ride”
Citing the Trump administration’s hostility to racial equity, the congressman told theGrio, “This country got to be great because we gave everyone an opportunity to participate. This country is great because that participation allowed us to get to be number one in the world.”
He added, “And when we choose an alternate road that doesn’t involve everyone in this country, then that greatness that we have enjoyed is at risk.”
President Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
President Joe Biden announced the largest single-day grant of clemency in modern history, commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals and pardoning 39 others convicted of non-violent crimes. Officials said the move reflects the administration’s dedication to criminal justice reform and the belief that individuals who have shown rehabilitation deserve the opportunity to fully reintegrate into society.
The commutations apply to individuals who were placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic under the CARES Act. The individuals have spent at least a year demonstrating their commitment to rebuilding their lives, securing employment, advancing their education, and supporting their families. The White House said the 39 pardoned individuals, many of whom were convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, are now contributing members of their communities, working as veterans, healthcare professionals, teachers, and advocates.
Biden’s actions include individuals such as:
Nina Simona Allen of Harvest, Alabama, is a 49-year-old woman who, after a non-violent conviction in her 20s, earned a post-baccalaureate degree and two master’s degrees. She works in education and volunteers at a soup kitchen and nursing home. Kelsie Lynn Becklin of Falcon Heights, Minnesota, a 38-year-old woman who completed a Ph.D. and mentors formerly incarcerated individuals pursuing higher education. Duran Arthur Brown of Cleveland, Ohio, a 44-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who works in education and is described as caring and compassionate. Norman O’Neal Brown of Washington, D.C., a 56-year-old man whose sentence for non-violent drug offenses was commuted by President Obama in 2015. He now works with non-profits focused on rehabilitation and reentry. Rosetta Jean Davis of Colville, Washington, is a 60-year-old woman who works as a peer supporter for those struggling with substance abuse. Michael Gary Pelletier of Augusta, Maine, a 67-year-old Coast Guard veteran who participated in more than 790 search-and-rescue operations and volunteers to support wounded veterans. In addition to these commutations and pardons, the White House noted that Biden is the first president to issue categorical pardons for individuals convicted of simple marijuana use and possession. He also pardoned former LGBTQI+ service members who were punished due to their sexual orientation. “The President has issued more sentence commutations at this point in his presidency than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms,” White House officials stated.
Biden’s clemency actions address sentencing disparities, particularly for non-violent drug offenses. Many of the individuals receiving commutations today would have received shorter sentences under current laws. “America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden insisted. “As President, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation.”
Those granted clemency come from diverse backgrounds, including military veterans, healthcare workers, addiction counselors, and community volunteers:
Arthur Lawrence Byrd of Clinton, Maryland, a 58-year-old equipment operator who contributes to his church’s coat drive and food pantry. Stevoni Wells Doyle of Santaquin, Utah, is a 47-year-old licensed substance use disorder counselor who fosters animals and serves her community. Gregory S. Ekman of Fountain Valley, California, is a 58-year-old Air Force veteran who volunteers with youth groups and his local church. Emily Good Nelson of Indianapolis, Indiana, is a 39-year-old woman who completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees and works in healthcare while volunteering in addiction recovery programs. Nathaniel David Reed III of San Antonio, Texas, a 46-year-old Air Force veteran who achieved the rank of Master Sergeant and mentors fellow airmen.
Biden signaled that more clemency actions could follow. “I will take more steps in the weeks ahead. My administration will continue reviewing clemency petitions to advance equal justice under the law, promote public safety, support rehabilitation and reentry, and provide meaningful second chances.”
EUTAW, AL — The Greene County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated has consistently served Greene and Hale Counties since 1978. Our legacy of services is best captured in a quote by our sister, Dorothy Height. She said, “Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It’s important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It’s the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.” This spirit of service has guided our chapter since its chartering in 1978. Today we are doing more for the community and enlarging our circle of service,” said Phillis Belcher, President of the Greene County Alumnae Chapter. Each November, families across Greene and Hale County enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner together. We typically share words thanks for the meal and count the many blessings in our lives. Unfortunately, there are families in our community who struggle daily to get a meal each day. Our goal is to ensure that every large family who wishes to receive a traditional holiday meal with all the trimmings does so. A long-standing project of the Greene County Alumnae Chapter this service began over 46 years ago and has grown to feed six families in Greene County and Hale County. Three families of 5 members or more are identified by the Greene County Department of Human Resources and three families of 5 members or more, are identified by the Hale County Department of Resources. Our objective is to help families while creating optimism for a brighter tomorrow. Chapter members Miriam Leftwich and Loydleetta Wabbington lead this service project.
The Greene County Commission met in regular session Monday, December 11, 2024 with all commissioners present and Chairman Garria Spencer presiding. The welcome was given by Commissioner Corey Cockrell and the invocation was led by Commissioner Allen Turner. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved by the body.
The commission opened discussion of findings of the recent state compliance audit conducted by the State of Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts on the Greene County Commission, for the period October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2021. The audit report presented the results of an examination of the Commission and a review of the Commission’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations of the State of Alabama in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts under the authority of the Code of Alabama 1975, Section 41-5A-12. The report was filed November 29, 2024.
The Findings indicated that the Commission did not have policies and procedures in place regarding the following: to ensure all financial information was accurately recorded; to ensure capital assets were properly valued and reported in the financial records; to ensure beer tax collections were properly distributed; to ensure beer tax collections were properly distributed. The Commission did not maintain all documentation for bid and public works projects.
In the exit conference the commission clarified that it responded to all requests relative to a state compliance audit, seemingly a financial audit was conducted by the state. The financial information submitted by the commission was not in the format required by the state examiners. CSFO Mac Underwood assured the commission that, going forward, all state audits will be responded to as financial audits.
The commission indicated that a formula has been put in place to have packets on all bids and related financial information prepared in format required by examiners.
In other business, the commission acted on the following:
Approved the 2025 Holiday Schedule.
Approved the Water Authority’s request for rental of equipment.
Approved essential workers pay for employees.
Approved the 2025 CIMS Agreement.
Approved ratifying landfill well repair.
Approved work on driveway on County Road 148, authorizing Chairman Spencer to sign documents.
Approved travel for Assist. Engineer to attend ACCA Legislative Conference, Dec.11-12, 2024.
Tabled City of Eutaw’s request regarding Street Scape Grant.
Approved extending vacation time to April 2025.
The Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Eutaw held the annual Christmas Parade for Greene County, Thursday, December 5, 2024. Greene County District Judge Lillie Jones Osborne served as Grand Marshal. Judge Osborne is the first female and African American female to serve as District Judge of Greene County, Alabama. She was appointed District Judge in 1999 by then Alabama Governor Don Siegelman to complete a term held by her late husband, Richard Osborne. Through re-elections she has held that position for the past 25 years.
This year’s Christmas Parade theme, Festival of Lights, featured a variety of decorated trees on the Old Courthouse Square, sponsored by various local businesses and organizations. Many businesses also decorated their storefronts lifting the Spirit of Christmas.
Other parade participants riding on beautifully decorated floats and vehicles, or walking in unison, included elected and appointed officials, representatives of churches, non-profit organizations, businesses, housing authorities, local school band, fire departments, ambulance service, and Debutantes sponsored by the Greene County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and more.
Even Santa rode in the local parade. The children enjoyed all the candy thrown from the floats.
An exceptionally large crowd was out to view the festivities and purchase snacks from the vendors.
The lighting of the Christmas Tree on the Thomas Gilmore Courthouse Square followed the parade. Many gathered to view this special event.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Nikki Giovanni, the groundbreaking poet, author, and professor whose work embodied the spirit of the Black Arts Movement and beyond, died on Monday in Blacksburg, Virginia. She was 81. Her wife, Virginia C. Fowler, confirmed the cause was complications from lung cancer.
Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr. on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni spent her formative years in Cincinnati, Ohio, but returned to Knoxville every summer with her sister to visit their grandparents. These visits helped shape her sense of identity and belonging, themes that would become central to her work. She graduated with honors in history from Fisk University, a historically Black college in Nashville and her grandfather’s alma mater. While at Fisk, Giovanni’s defiant spirit and intellect were evident. Expelled briefly due to issues with authority, she returned after a period of reflection and was readmitted with the help of a supportive Dean of Women. This early experience of rebellion and reconciliation laid the groundwork for her unapologetic approach to life and art.
A Voice of Rebellion and Resilience
Giovanni rose to prominence during the 1960s as a fierce voice in the Black Arts Movement, alongside literary giants such as Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, Ntozake Shange, and Sonia Sanchez. Her early works, including “Black Feeling, Black Talk” (1968) and “Black Judgement” (1968), were steadfast in their militancy and pride. Her poetry grappled with the injustices faced by Black Americans, including the brutal murder of Emmett Till and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, which killed four Black girls.
At a time when mainstream publishers showed little interest in the work of a young Black woman writing what they labeled “militant” poetry, Giovanni took matters into her own hands. She self-published her work, founding a company to distribute her collections. “No one was much interested in a Black girl writing what was called ‘militant’ poetry,” she once wrote. “I thought of it as good poetry.”
Her boldness paid off. In 1972, at just 29 years old, she sold out Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, reading her poetry to a crowd of more than 1,000 alongside the New York Community Choir. The following year, for her 30th birthday, she filled the 3,000-seat Philharmonic Hall, where the choir joined her again, along with Melba Moore and Wilson Pickett. The audience erupted joyfully when she recited her now-iconic poem, “Ego-Tripping.” The piece, a celebration of Black female strength, begins with the lines:
“I was born in the congo I walked to the fertile crescent and built the sphinx…” And concludes triumphantly: “I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal I cannot be comprehended except by my permission I mean…I…can fly Like a bird in the sky… ” A Prolific Career
In addition to her poetry, Giovanni wrote children’s books, essays, and a memoir, “Gemini: An Extended Autobiographical Statement on My First Twenty-Five Years of Being a Black Poet (1971).” She was known for her candid reflections on race, gender, and identity, blending the personal with the political in provocative and deeply human ways.
Giovanni’s interview with James Baldwin on the television program Soul! in 1971 remains a touchstone in American cultural history. Their two-hour conversation, filmed in London, explored the intersections of race, gender, and societal expectations. At one point, she posed a raw question about the cycle of violence affecting Black families: “What do you do about a man who is mistreated in the world and comes home and brutalizes his wife? Where does that leave his daughter?” Baldwin’s response: “Sweetheart. Our ancestors taught us how to do that.”
An Educator and Mentor
In 1987, Giovanni joined the faculty at Virginia Tech, where she became a University Distinguished Professor. She remained there for 35 years, influencing generations of students with her wit, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to truth. Even in academia, her rebellious spirit shone through. Giovanni famously supported her student, Seung-Hui Cho, before he committed the tragic mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007. She had him removed from her class when she sensed his troubling nature.
Giovanni earned seven NAACP Image Awards, a Grammy nomination, and the distinction of having three of her books listed as New York Times and Los Angeles Times Best Sellers—a rare feat for a poet.
Giovanni described herself as a dreamer. “My dream was not to publish or to even be a writer,” she remarked. “My dream was to discover something no one else had thought of. I guess that’s why I’m a poet. We put things together in ways no one else does.”
Giovanni’s poetry was a lifeline for many, especially young Black women who saw their power and potential reflected in her verses. She wasn’t just a poet but a cultural force who celebrated Blackness, womanhood, and the art of dreaming. “I’m a writer. I’m happy,” she demanded.
Nikki Giovanni leaves behind her son, Thomas, and her granddaughter. Her father, mother, sister, and aunt preceded her in death.
Congresswoman Terri Sewell on the floor of the House of Representatives speaking about Rosa Parks
Washington, D.C. Dec. 4, 2024 – U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) spoke on the House Floor to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the arrest of Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama. Rep. Sewell called on her colleagues to pass her bill, H.R. 308, to designate December 1st as a federal holiday commemorating Rosa Parks’ historic arrest.
Rep. Sewell: Mister Speaker, I rise to honor the legacy of an American hero, Mrs. Rosa Parks, as we observe the 69th anniversary of her historic arrest in Montgomery, Alabama. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks took a bold stand against segregation by refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus. Her quiet, dignified courage sparked the beginning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and galvanized a movement that changed the very fabric of this nation.
Beginning on December 5th, and continuing for the next 13 months, African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, brought the city’s bus system to a screeching halt. Their efforts were successful, resulting in the November 1956 Supreme Court decision outlawing racial segregation on public buses . The change-makers who staged the Montgomery Bus Boycott are a testament to the will of a disenfranchised people to take control of their own destiny, and their success quickly became the global model for nonviolent human rights advocacy. 69 years later, as the benefactors of their sacrifices, we remain indebted to them for laying the foundation of the continued struggle for liberty and justice for all.
That’s why today, I am proud to be leading the effort in Congress to designate December 1st as “Rosa Parks Day” to commemorate her historic arrest.
H.R. 308, the Rosa Parks Day Act, was the very first bill that I introduced in the 118th Congress, along with my colleagues Chairman of the CBC Steven Horsford of Nevada and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty of Ohio.
It will help ensure that Rosa Parks’ brave sacrifice is never forgotten, and it will remind us of the power of ordinary Americans to achieve extraordinary social change. Moreover, it will become the first federal holiday in our nation’s history to honor a Black woman.
Rosa Parks is a true American hero. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda . Her lifelong work in the fight for equality and justice still resonates today. There is no more befitting figure in our nation’s history to honor with a new federal holiday. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 308, the Rosa Parks Day Act.
Congresspersons Clyburn, Pressley and Scanlon address a press conference in Washington D. C.
By NNPA Newswire
WASHINGTON, DC – On November 21, 2024, Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) led 60 of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to use his executive clemency power in the final months of his presidency to reunite families, address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration. The lawmakers hosted a press conference earlier today to discuss the letter.
“Now is the time to use your clemency authority to rectify unjust and unnecessary criminal laws passed by Congress and draconian sentences given by judges,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “The grant of pardons and commutations and the restoration of rights will undoubtedly send a powerful message across the country in support of fundamental fairness and furthering meaningful criminal justice reform.”
Mass incarceration remains a persistent, systemic injustice that erodes the soul of America. Our nation has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with nearly two million people locked in jails and prisons throughout the country. The extreme use of incarceration has resulted in one in two adults having had an incarcerated family member. People of color are disproportionately put behind bars, along with individuals from low-income communities, LGBTQIA+ folks, and those with disabilities. The bloated prison system reflects and emboldens biases that undermine the ideals of our nation and diminish trust in the rule of law. Mass incarceration attacks the most vulnerable Americans, thereby destabilizing families and inflicting intergenerational trauma.
In their letter to President Biden, the lawmakers praised the President’s efforts to create a fair and just criminal legal system by pardoning people convicted of simple marijuana possession and LGBTQ+ former servicemembers and urged the President to use his clemency powers to help broad classes of people and cases, including the elderly and chronically ill, those on death row, people with unjustified sentencing disparities, and women who were punished for defending themselves against their abusers. The lawmakers also outlined the fiscal toll of the growing mass incarceration crisis.
“You have the support of millions of people across the country who have felt the harms of mass incarceration: young children longing to hug their grandparents, people who have taken responsibility for their mistakes, and those who simply were never given a fair chance,” the lawmakers wrote. “These are the people seeking help that only you can provide through the use of your presidential clemency power.”
Joining Representatives Clyburn, Pressley, and Scanlon in sending the letter are Representatives Joyce Beatty, Sanford Bishop, Shontel Brown, Cori Bush, André Carson, Troy Carter, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Valerie Foushee, Al Green, Jahana Hayes, Steven Horsford, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Robin Kelly, Summer Lee, Jennifer McClellan, Gregory Meeks, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Robert Scott, Terri Sewell, Marilyn Strickland, Bennie Thompson, Rashida Tlaib, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
The lawmakers’ letter is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union; Center for Popular Democracy; Last Prisoner Project; Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Death Penalty Action; The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls; The Faith Leaders of Color Coalition; Second Chance Justice of MCAN; JustLeadershipUSA; FAMM; The Episcopal Church; The Bambi Fund; Free Billie Allen Campaign; People’s Coalition for Safety and Freedom; Prophetic Resistance Boston; and Families Against Mandatory Minimums.
Vice President Kamala Harris, joined by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-12) and U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA), signs the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act at the U.S. Capitol, Monday, December 9, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) and photo of Shirley Chisholm in 1972, announcing her candidacy for the Presidency.
By Gerren Kieth Gaynor, The Grio
Vice President Kamala Harris signed a bill bestowing the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm with a Congressional Gold Medal, a symbolic and historic moment in Washington for America’s first Black female vice president.
Harris’ signature instructed the United States Congress to posthumously award Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and first African American to run for president in a major party, with Congress’s highest civilian honor.
Vice President Harris said she “proudly” and “humbly” signed the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act on Monday while on Capitol Hill, where she also swore in Senators-designate Andy Kim, D-N.J., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Senator-elect Pete Ricketts, R-Neb. The bill will now go to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
As vice president, Harris serves as president of the U.S. Senate, which grants her the authority to sign bills before they go to the president’s desk for final signature. Typically, the president pro tempore of the Senate — currently U.S. Senator Patty Murray — signs such bills. However, the vice president felt it necessary and meaningful to personally sign the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, theGrio learned from a source with knowledge of the vice president’s decision.
The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., is years in the making. Congresswoman Lee and Senator Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., stood beside Vice President Harris as she signed the legislation. Lee, a mentee of Chisholm, told theGrio in a recent interview, “This Congressional Gold Medal is part of not only her legacy but part of reminding people who she was and the contributions that she made to this country and to the world.”
Throughout her 20 years in Congress, Lee also worked to have a portrait of Chisholm commissioned and hung in the hall of Congress, create a U.S. postal stamp in tribute to her, and a resolution honoring her contributions to American politics.
Chisholm, who died in 2005 at 80, made history in 1968 as the first African-American woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York’s 12th Congressional District. After only two terms in Congress, she made history again as the first Democratic woman, first African American and first Black woman to seek a major party’s nomination to run for president in 1972.
During her political career, Chisholm championed racial and gender equality, early education, and child welfare. She is also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and, at its founding, was the caucus’ only female member.
Vice President Harris has long acknowledged how Chisholm inspired her political career. As Lee pointed out to theGrio, Harris used the colors of Chisholm’s presidential campaign in her 2019 presidential campaign. During that presidential run, during an interview with theGrio, Harris said, “I stand, as so many of us do, on her shoulders.” She added, “Her strength as an individual, as a woman, as a Black woman, was so powerful and resonated in such an incredible way … even today.”
While campaigning for president in October, the vice president named Chisholm as one of five people, dead or alive, she would have dinner with on the “All The Smoke” podcast. “I would love to sit with her. I feel that I know her because I have studied her life,” Harris said. The Vice President also emphasized that her own historic run for president was “a path that she created.”
Though Harris was unsuccessful in her 2024 presidential bid, Lee told theGrio Shirley Chisholm would be “applauding” the vice president. “Kamala picked up that baton, and she’s still running. I think Shirley is pleased and happy and smiling and saying, keep at it because sooner or later we’ll have a woman of color, a Black woman specifically, as our president,” said Congresswoman Lee.
