Shirley Chisholm was a nursery school teacher who went on to be the nation’s first Black candidate for president. She wasn’t the first woman candidate for president, but I think she was the first Black woman candidate.
I remember her only vaguely from the 1972 Democratic National Convention. My parents were registered Republican; Shirley Chisholm was dismissed as a radical.
But as an adult, the more I learn of her, the more impressive I realize she was!
From: The Women’s Hall of Fame website:
http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=39
“Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, is a passionate and effective advocate for the needs of minorities, women and children and has changed the nation's perception about the capabilities of women and African-Americans.
A New York City educator and child care manager, Chisholm saw the problems of the poor every day, and in the 1950s this led her to run for and win a seat in the New York State Legislature. In 1968 she was elected to Congress from the new 12th District. There she supported improved employment and education programs, expansion of day care, income support and other programs to improve inner city life and opportunity. She advocated for the end of the military draft and reduced defense spending. “
You can also look her up on Wikipedia,
and at PBS.org: http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/chisholm/
Shirley Chisholm died in January of 2005; I wonder what she would think of this particular Democratic primary! Her first book was titled, Unbought and Unbossed. I think that says it all!
Her personal power and ability to strategize was shown in the first round of votes at the 1972 Democratic National Convention. She got 152 delegates, placing fourth in the lineup (behind George McGovern, Henry “Scoop” Jackson, and George Wallace). She was a charismatic speaker; a truth- teller who did not mince words and who took responsibility to lead where she thought the nation could, and should, go.
She is one of my heros. I hope that in the current moment of history where a woman and a black man both have a viable chance to win the Presidential election, we remember Shirley Chisholm, a powerful and effective trail blazer for women, children, black people, and all Americans who care about justice.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
About Change
Our Bishop, Mary Ann Swenson, requested that folks respond to her blog requesting thoughts on "change." Here are mine:
Today, we walked down Hollywood Blvd with my 8-year-old son. We were showing him the stars' names. I don't think very many young people would know most of the names we walked by, and even the symbols don't really make sense anymore.
For instance, those who got their stars for television have a little square with antennae above it; televisions now tend to be rectangular and have a cable in the back.
The stars' symbol for movies is in the shape of an old movie camera; there's a kind of Mickey Mouse Ear shape at the top of the camera, depicting the place where the film went from reel to reel. Nowadays, movie cameras are mostly digital.
Recording stars have a symbol that is the size and shape of a CD; only the tone arm (remember tone arms?) indicate that it's a small depiction of a vinyl record. Even CD's are quickly becoming a thing of the past; everyone is moving to MP3 players, like ipods or even cell phones.
Radio stars are remembered with a microphone; that symbol still works, but what about internet? How will the stars of YouTube (the ones who last more than a few minutes) be remembered on Hollywood Blvd.? And, will Hollywood Blvd be remembered on YouTube?
Johnny Grant, the honorary mayor of Hollywood, died last week at age 90 after a long, full life. My 8 year old has no idea who he was, and is certainly not concerned about his passing. You know, Woody was equally blase about Fred Astaire.
However, while we were at Grauman's Chinese Theater (where Myrna Loy's foot and hand prints left my son unimpressed, to say the least), we came upon the foot and hand prints of Jackie Cooper, made (I think) in 1935 when Jackie Cooper was aged 8. Woody discovered that his own hands and feet fit perfectly into the concrete imprints made just about 72 years ago.
Woody could imagine a boy who was something like him, who grew up, grew old, and finally died. Finally, there was something he could relate to.
I don't know if Johnny Grant or the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce thought about updating the symbols on the Walk of Fame. I don't know if they've considered adding new symbols to reflect the changes in entertainment technology now or in the future. The symbols they've used just don't work now. That era is past, and Hollywood Blvd is a relic.
Folks who think that their methods must be memorialized (as opposed to their stories, their humanity) and who work hard to keep those methods in place, will simply be outpaced.
Times have changed; Hollywood's past is irrelevant to my son. It just doesn't translate, even though it was once great. However, he was interested in seeing if his footprints matched the boy actor from all those years ago.
It's our humanity that survives, not our styles nor even our symbols. That's what I'm thinking about change.
Today, we walked down Hollywood Blvd with my 8-year-old son. We were showing him the stars' names. I don't think very many young people would know most of the names we walked by, and even the symbols don't really make sense anymore.
For instance, those who got their stars for television have a little square with antennae above it; televisions now tend to be rectangular and have a cable in the back.
The stars' symbol for movies is in the shape of an old movie camera; there's a kind of Mickey Mouse Ear shape at the top of the camera, depicting the place where the film went from reel to reel. Nowadays, movie cameras are mostly digital.
Recording stars have a symbol that is the size and shape of a CD; only the tone arm (remember tone arms?) indicate that it's a small depiction of a vinyl record. Even CD's are quickly becoming a thing of the past; everyone is moving to MP3 players, like ipods or even cell phones.
Radio stars are remembered with a microphone; that symbol still works, but what about internet? How will the stars of YouTube (the ones who last more than a few minutes) be remembered on Hollywood Blvd.? And, will Hollywood Blvd be remembered on YouTube?
Johnny Grant, the honorary mayor of Hollywood, died last week at age 90 after a long, full life. My 8 year old has no idea who he was, and is certainly not concerned about his passing. You know, Woody was equally blase about Fred Astaire.
However, while we were at Grauman's Chinese Theater (where Myrna Loy's foot and hand prints left my son unimpressed, to say the least), we came upon the foot and hand prints of Jackie Cooper, made (I think) in 1935 when Jackie Cooper was aged 8. Woody discovered that his own hands and feet fit perfectly into the concrete imprints made just about 72 years ago.
Woody could imagine a boy who was something like him, who grew up, grew old, and finally died. Finally, there was something he could relate to.
I don't know if Johnny Grant or the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce thought about updating the symbols on the Walk of Fame. I don't know if they've considered adding new symbols to reflect the changes in entertainment technology now or in the future. The symbols they've used just don't work now. That era is past, and Hollywood Blvd is a relic.
Folks who think that their methods must be memorialized (as opposed to their stories, their humanity) and who work hard to keep those methods in place, will simply be outpaced.
Times have changed; Hollywood's past is irrelevant to my son. It just doesn't translate, even though it was once great. However, he was interested in seeing if his footprints matched the boy actor from all those years ago.
It's our humanity that survives, not our styles nor even our symbols. That's what I'm thinking about change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)