On this day in history, November 5th, 1968, Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) became the first African American woman elected to serve as a representative to Congress. Shirley was an expert on early childhood education and served as a consultant to the NYC Bureau of Child Welfare before being elected to the state assembly. She was elected to Congress as a Democrat (good girl), and was a vocal critic on the Vietnam War as well as being a great advocate for the urban poor. Although she was unsuccessful in her 1992 bid for a presidential nomination she remains a pillar and beacon for the Civil Rights movement. She was elected, on this day in history……..