Sometimes, it really does come down to one vote (and the voter's mother) to change history.
In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress, and in 1972 she was the first Black major party candidate to run for president. But beyond being a first, who was Shirley Chisholm? And how does her legacy impact us all today?
In 1834, men and women—African American and white—of William Lloyd Garrison’s newly formed Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society saw Christmas as an opportunity to expose a republic that proclaimed liberty yet held millions as slaves. Women assumed the lead, boldly defying a society that denied them a public voice or political opinions. To finance the abolition cause, these women organized Christmas bazaars that sold donated gifts, and trumpeted anti-slavery messages in the name of the prince of peace and emancipation.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg has achieved legendary status as the second woman ever appointed to the United States Supreme Court. But her path to Associate Justice was not an easy one, filled with obstacles faced by countless 20th century women looking to break into male-dominated professions.
After decades of organizing, lobbying, and protesting, American women finally gained the right to vote with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. This film offers rare footage of the struggle leading up to and including that pivotal moment.