The perception that people have of women has changed. Some time ago, people never believed that women could do anything significant to change the world. The women did not have opportunities to do many different things, such as voting in an election or people voting for them. The black women were mostly the victims. As of today, a black woman is the Vice President of the world’s most powerful state. Her name is Kamala Harris.
Kamala Harris encouraged several black women and made them believe that they, too, can hold such powerful positions. Many women around the world who are in such positions have done incredible things to change their countries for the better. Today, we will discuss black women who have aimed for the highest office, especially in the United States. Charlene Mitchell, Shirley Chisholm, Margaret Wright, Isabell Masters, Lenora Fulani, Monica Moorehead, Joy Chavis, Carol Moseley Braun, Cynthia McKinney, and Peta Lindsay.
Charlene Mitchell
Born in Cincinnati, Charlene Mitchell moved with her family to Chicago. During the 2nd World War, she grew up in the Frances Cabrini Rowhouses and attended classes in the Moody Bible Institute.
As a 3rd party candidate in the 1968 election, Charlene Mitchell was the 1st black American woman to run for President of the US. She represented the CPUSA (Communist Party USA), and her running mate was Michael Zagarell, the National Youth Director of the party.
In 1988, Charlene Mitchell ran as an independent progressive for the United States Senator from NY against Daniel Moynihan’s incumbent. He got re-elected by a big margin.
Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Anita Chisholm was an American educator, author, and politician. In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the 1st black woman elected to the United States Congress, representing New York’s 12th Congressional District for more than five terms from 1969 to 1983. In the 1972 United States presidential election, Shirley Chisholm became the 1st black American candidate for a major party’s nomination for President of the US. She was also the 1st woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn. She studied and worked in early childhood education, becoming involved in local Democratic party politics in the 1950s. In 1964, she got elected to the New York State Assembly. In 2015, Shirley Chisholm posthumously attained the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Margaret Wright
Margaret Wright was a 3rd party candidate for President of the US and a community activist in Los Angeles, California. Margaret Wright was a shipyard worker during the 2nd World War and of the film’s principals called ‘The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter.’
In the 1976 United States presidential election, Margaret Wright represented the People’s Party, and her running mate was Benjamin Spock, who had been their presidential candidate in the late 20th century (1972). The Peace and Freedom Party endorsed their ticket.
Bumper stickers marketed her as a socialist for President. The ticket got more than 49000 votes. Margaret Wright was an activist and a founder of Women against Racism in the Los Angeles Watts section.
Isabell Masters
Isabell Masters of Topeka was a 5-time perennial 3rd party candidate for President of the US. Isabell Master’s 5 presidential campaigns are the most for any woman in the United States history. Isabella Masters was a candidate in the 1984 US presidential election, 1992, where she had 339 votes, 1996 and 2004 presidential elections. In 1996, Masters was only on the ballot in Arkansas. Her 1992 running mate was Walter Ray Masters, her son, and her 1996 running mate was Shirley Jean Masters, her daughter.
Lenora Fulani
Born on April 25th, 1950, Lenora Branch Fulani is an American psychotherapist, psychologist, and political activist. Lenora Fulani is famous for her presidential campaigns and development of youth programs serving smaller communities in the NYC (New York City) region. In the 1988 US presidential election heading the New Alliance Party ticket, Fulani became the 1st woman and the 1st African American to get ballot access in 50 states. She got more votes for President in a United States general election than any other woman. Lenora Fulani’s political concerns include gay rights, political reforms, and racial equality.
Since the late 20th century (1980), Lenora Fulani has worked closely with Fred Newman, her campaign manager. Along with psychologist Lois Holzman, Lenora Fulani has worked to incorporate or include the social therapeutic approach into youth-oriented programs. In 1993, Branch joined activists who supported or backed Ross Perot for President in the 1992 US presidential election in a national effort to establish or create a new pro-reform party. The following year (1994), she led the formation of the CUIP. CUIP stands for Committee for a Unified Independent Party.
Monica Moorehead
Monica Gail Moorehead is an American retired teacher, political activist, and writer. She was the presidential nominee of the WWP (Workers World Party) in 2016, 2000, and 1996. Since high school, Monica distributed newspapers for the Black Panther Party and joined Workers World Party in 1972. Monica Moorehead rose to the national leadership in 1979. Monica’s presidential campaign in 1996 got more than 28900 votes. 4 years later, in 2000, she got over 4000 votes. That same year, Monica was only on the ballot in Rhode Island, Washington, Florida, and Wisconsin. On both occasions, her vice-presidential running mate was Gloria Riva.
Carol Moseley Braun
Carol Elizabeth Moseley Braun is also referred to as Moseley-Braun. She was born on August 16th, 1947. Carol Elizabeth Moseley Braun is an American politician, diplomat, and lawyer who represented Illinois in the US Senate for 6 years (1993-1999). Before her Senate tenure, Carol Moseley was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1979-1988 and served as Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 1988-1992. Carol got elected to the United States Senate in 1992 after defeating Senator Alan Dixon in a Democratic primary. Carol Elizabeth Moseley Braun served 1 term in the Senate, and Republic Peter Fitzgerald defeated her in 1998.
Following her Senate tenure, Braun served as the US Ambassador to Samoa and New Zealand from 1999 to 2001. Moseley Braun was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2004 United States presidential election. Braun withdrew from the race before the Iowa caucuses. In November 2010. Braun started a campaign for Chicago Mayor to replace retiring Richard Daley. Braun placed 4th in a field of more than four candidates.
Moseley Braun has several firsts, just like Kamala Harris. She was the 1st black American woman elected to the United States Senate. She is also the 1st black American United States Senator from the Democratic Party. Besides. She is also the 1st woman to challenge and defeat an incumbent United States Senator in an election. Moseley Braun is the 1st female United Senator from Illinois.
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Peta Lindsay
Peta Lindsay was born in 1984. She is an American anti-war activist. Peta Lindsay was a presidential nominee of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in the 2012 United States presidential election.
Cynthia McKinney
Cynthia Ann McKinney was born on March 17th, 1955. Cynthia Ann is an American activist and politician who is an assistant professor at North South University. As a member of the Democratic Party, Cynthia Ann served more than five terms in the United States House of Representatives. Cynthia was the 1st black woman elected to represent Georgia in the House. Cynthia Ann left the Democratic Party and ran in 2008 as the Green Party of the US’s presidential candidate.
In the 1992 election, Cynthia Ann got elected in Georgia’s newly re-established 11th District and re-elected 2 years later (1994). When her District got redrawn and renumbered because of the Supreme Court of the United States ruling, Cynthia Ann got elected from the new 4th District in the 1996 election. Denise Majette defeated Cynthia Ann in the 2002 Democratic primary. Her defeat was in connection to Republican crossover voting in Georgia’s open primary election.
After her 2002 loss, Cynthia Ann traveled and gave speeches. She also served as a commissioner in 9/11 Citizens Watch. Cynthia Ann got re-elected to the House in November 2004, following her successor’s run for Senate.
In Congress, Cynthia Ann unsuccessfully attempted to unseal or uncap FBI records on the killing or assassination of Martin Luther King, an activist, and Tupac Shakur’s assassination, a legend hip-hop genre. Cynthia Ann criticized Bush Administration over the 9/11 attacks. Cynthia Ann introduced impeachment articles against President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Hank Johnson defeated Cynthia Ann in the 2006 Democratic primary. In the March 29th, 2006, Capitol Hill police incident, Cynthia hit a Capitol Hill police officer for halting her to ask for identification. Cynthia Ann left the Democratic Party in September 2007.
Indeed, these women were courageous in deciding to target a powerful position. Moreover, they are good examples that other black women who feel inferior should follow, for they never gave up quickly. They were willing to retry in every election to try and get the presidential position. We should admire and acknowledge these black women, for they were ready to take the bull by its horns.
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