By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Hello All:
I recently posted a very happy announcement about the upcoming Homage to the Honorable Soror Shirley Chisholm, first Black woman elected to Congress: A 32 foot tall statue being planned for Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY, with the great reveal scheduled for 2025.
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm is being honored with a Statue in Prospect Park, Bklyn, NY - (photo) Caribbean Life
How awesomely exciting! This has made headlines nationally and locally - so many accolades in regard to her many accomplishments, that I'm sharing links to several articles that give more information on the process, planning and participants in making this magnificent project come together.
As I write this, I can see in my mind's eye my late husband's Aunt Elma Brathwaite, who was a neighbor to Shirley Chisholm. I can also see several people who were part of the community and her supporters who always quoted her mantra: "Unbossed & Unbought!"
The first Black woman to
be elected to Congress, Shirley Chisholm was born November 30, 1924 in Brooklyn. She represented the New York's 12th congressional
district, which included her hometown of Bed-Stuy. In 1972, she became
the first woman to pursue the Democratic presidential nomination.
At the time that I briefly met her at a neighborhood birthday party in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, I was totally on another level of awareness - and was sadly unaware of the magnitude of the personage I was rubbing elbows with. I had been out of the country for a while, and had missed out on a great many of the changes that had taken place - politically and otherwise. Most of the celebrants, who were originally from Barbados, were older than I was. No one referred to her as "Congresswoman. " We were all dancing to calypso music, singing lyrics from The Mighty Sparrow, Lord Kitchener, etc. Having a ball! But I do remember how she was smiling that bright beautiful smile of hers; and congenial manner - we were having a great time. Lou and I were just becoming a couple - so I was on my P's and Q's when in the company of his mother and the other "elders" of the community.
It's interesting to me, though, how close I came to touching greatness in this wonderful woman! We literally ran in concentric circles!! She attended Brooklyn College; and years later, in 1971, I was counselor to Black students at Brooklyn College under the SEEK Program. As a journalist, I started covering the Congressional Black Caucus in 1985 - sadly 1983 was her last year in office, so I missed the opportunity of seeing her in action. I covered the 100th birthday anniversary of Lou's Grandmother, Evadne Brathwaite - Ms. Chisholm's former next door neighbor - she gave her greetings and kind of vanished afterwards. So I did not have an opportunity to speak with her. A few years, Ms Brathwaite died at age 104. She attended the service, but did not stay for the repast. So we were frequently running in concentric circles.
Many may not be aware that Congresswoman Chisholm, as the first Black female elected to Congress, was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in 1971, as well as the National Women's Political Caucus. The CBC is now in its 52nd year, is the voice of reason representing the interests, needs and lives of Black constituents throughout the US.
Of course, the big one for me is when I learned we're both Sorors - members of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, but I did not pledge until 1983 in Pasadena, California's Alumnae Chapter. She had become a Soror while attending Brooklyn College (CUNY) 30+ years prior to me. Shirley Chisholm inspired so many of my peers - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, NY City Councilwoman Una Clarke, NYS Assemblywoman Annette Robinson, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan - and legions of others, to run for office and become servants of the people. And I, myself, held elected office in California as Altadena Town Council Representative.
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| CONGRESSWOMAN SHIRLEY CHISHOLM |
The spirit of this tiny woman is still motivating and inspiring us today! As mentioned earlier, I'm sharing some links throughout this post about the upcoming installation of the monument being constructed in her honor. I also invite you to learn about Shirley Chisholm State Park(see below)
https://ourtimepress.com/prospect-park-south-entrance-to-be-graced-with-shirley-chisolm-monument/
The
homage being planned for the first Black Woman to run for president was
originally spearheaded in 2018 by Former NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray. "The statue has been a long time coming. In 2018, city officials announced plans to honor Chisholm as part of the She Built NYC program, an initiative
that seeks to build more monuments honoring women in New York City.
After soliciting proposals from interested artists, the city settled on a
design by Amanda Williams and Olalekan B. Jeyifous." - Smithsonian
https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2023/07/18/shirley-chisholm-monument-for-prospect-park/
https://gothamist.com/news/statue-of-political-trailblazer-shirley-chisholm-coming-to-prospect-park
The
original 2020 reveal is now set for 2025, after having been postponed
during the Covid 19 epidemic. A rendering of the 32-foot-tall monument
shows Chisholm rising from the
concrete at her waist. The congresswoman is depicted in green (?)* stenciled
metal and outlined in gold. A golden image of the Capitol building
bisects her silhouette, symbolizing “how she disrupted the perception of
who has the right to occupy such institutions,” wrote the artists in a presentation describing the work.
Of
course, members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., are looking with
great anticipation to the historic installation of their Dynamic Soror
and trailblazer.
*(I don't know if the artists overlooked the fact that Shirley Chisholm was a Delta and our colors are Crimson and Creme - IJS).
https://patch.com/new-york/prospectheights/shirley-chisholm-gets-new-do-bk-monument-redesign
https://www.6sqft.com/nyc-approves-design-for-shirley-chisholm-monument-in-prospect-park/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/monument-to-shirley-chisholm-2339226
See outside
Shirley Chisholm State Park
State park in Brooklyn, New York
Shirley
Chisholm State Park is a 407-acre state park in southeastern Brooklyn,
New York City. It is bound by Belt Parkway and Spring Creek Park to the
north and Jamaica Bay to the south, situated atop the former
Pennsylvania Avenue and Fountain Avenue Landfills. The first sections of
the park opened in 2019. Wikipedia
Address: J4WG+5M, 1750 Granville Payne Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11239
Hours:
Closed ⋅ Opens 8 AM Thu
Area: 407 acres (165 ha)
Created: July 2019
Coordinates: 40°38′35″N 73°52′32″W / 40.643082°N 73.875685°W
Questions & answers
Q: I need to pay ?
A: open free to the public
Park on a former landfill overlooking Jamaica Bay, with trails, picnic spots & NYC skyline views. - Google
So
LONG LIVE THE MEMORY AND LEGEND OF
SHIRLEY ANITA ST. HILL CHISHOLM!
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
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| Gloria DULAN-Wilson |
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