Shirley Crisholm s Story An African American Woman

Shirley Crisholm’s story takes place in the early 1900’s in America. She had to endure life constantly being categorized and labeled against her true qualities. The society of her time did not see women as they did men, nor was there acknowledgement to the adequacy of any person outside of being born White. During this time, the white male was held at the top of the food chain. White females reigning second, black males third, and black women at the very bottom of the barrel. From birth, she was only seen as a black female and would have to work harder than the average American man, and probably white woman, to be recognized for her merit. Being an African-American woman, Shirley’s chances of success and notoriety were slim to none. However, Shirley Crisholm did not believe in the systematic prejudice that was being thrown at the Black community or towards herself. Shirley knew she was more than just the labels placed beside her name. She wanted to make change in America and open the eyes and minds of everyone around her. The knowledge of her potential was seeded into Shirley’s mind from a young age. Though born in America, she spent her youth growing up in Barbados. Within living there, her community consisted of black men and women living and prospering in the same ways their white counterparts did in America. She grew up knowing and experiencing people of color being just as capable of duty and work as any other race would. Her proficiency gave her the determination and