Many people know Shirley Chisholm as the first African-American woman to be elected to U.S. Congress and the first African-American woman to run for president of the United States. But few know that the Brooklyn, New York native was also the first child care teacher to seek the presidency as well.
Shirley Chisholm began her career as an educator at the Friends Day Nursery in Brooklyn before eventually becoming the child care director. She would go on to study elementary education at Columbia University, completing her master’s in 1952.
Later, Chisholm would serve as an education consultant for New York City’s day-care division, before becoming active in the NAACP and her district’s Unity Democratic Club. In 1964–68 she represented her Brooklyn district in the New York state legislature.
In 1968 Chisholm defeated civil rights leader James Farmer to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. She soon gained a reputation as a strong leader who opposed weapons development and the Vietnam War. She also promoted full-employment proposals.
In 1972, she became a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidency, winning 152 delegates before withdrawing from the race.
*Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shirley-Chisholm