A Seat at the Table: The Life and Times of Shirley Chisholm

Pioneering politician Shirley Chisholm (1924–2005), the first Black U.S. congresswoman, takes center stage in this penetrating biography by historians Starks and Brooks (coauthors of African Americans and the Presidents). The authors take a granular look at early influences on Chisholm’s personal and political development. Born in Brooklyn to Caribbean immigrants, she was sent in 1928 to live in Barbados, where she witnessed the island’s struggle for independence. This experience set the stage for her lifelong battle for fairness and equality, according to the authors. Moving back to New York City in 1934, Chisholm earned a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College, which she put to use overseeing daycare centers for the city’s Bureau of Child Welfare. In 1953, she joined a local Democrat club, eventually rising to lead a rebellious Brooklyn faction of Black Democrats who opposed party bosses and fought for Black residents. Her reputation for honesty and integrity propelled her to the state assembly in 1964—a stepping-stone toward her landmark 1968 U.S. Congressional victory. She launched a White House bid in 1972, returning to Congress after her defeat in the Democratic primary, but ultimately resigning in protest over President Ronald Reagan’s policies. The narrative captivates with its detailed descriptions of Chisholm’s repeated confrontations with elites. It’s a fascinating outline of an influential lawmaker’s grassroots path to power. (Mar.)