Zinga A. Fraser
IN HILLARY CLINTON’S 2016 concession speech, she talked about the precedent her candidacy set. “We weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time ”, she said, but “thanks to you it’s got about 18 million cracks in it …and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time.” Even though Clinton usually evoked the images and words of white women suffragists, she was echoing another pathbreaking woman: Shirley Chisholm (1924–2005), the first African American and the first woman to seek the nomination of a major party for the presidency of the United States. Reflecting on the impact of her 1972 campaign, Chisholm said:
The next time a woman of whatever color, or a dark skinned person of whatever sex aspires to be President, the way should be a little smoother because I helped pave it. Perhaps some black or Spanish speaking child already dreams of running for the Presidency someday, because a black woman has dared to.