With the issuance of Proclamation 4236, President Nixon created Women’s Equality Day, first observed in 1973 in honor of the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.*
An important milestone to be sure, but it was in 1968 that Shirley Chisolm, educational consultant and one of the founders of the National Women’s Caucus, became the first black woman elected to Congress.
In 1972, she was the first black woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination stating: “I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women’s movement of this country, although I am a woman and equally proud of that. I am the candidate of the people and my presence before you symbolizes a new era in American political history.”
Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign forty-seven years to the day after Shirley kicked off her campaign. While Harris ended her presidential bid in early December, on August 19, 2020, she was officially nominated by the Democratic Party as the Vice Presidential candidate.
A new era for sure and a superb way to honor and celebrate Women’s Equality Day.
Please help CMC celebrate by supporting us on the last day of our summer campaign.
You can donate via this link: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/NzgzODI=
*Excerpted from: https://richardnixonlibrary.tumblr.com/post/187287001898/proclamation-4236womens-equality-day-the
