Shirley Chisholm (Nov. 30, 1924 – Jan. 1, 2005) was an American politician, educator, & author. In 1968, she became the first African-American woman elected to Congress, representing New York's 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969-83. On January 25, 1972, she became the first major-party black candidate for President of the U.S. and the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination. She received 152 first-ballot votes at the 1972 Democratic National Convention.