On Monday, November 18, the New York City Council passed a resolution designating every November 30 as “Shirley Chisholm Day,” honoring the longtime Bedford-Stuyvesant resident, political pioneer, as well as the first Black woman elected to Congress and first woman to run for President.
The honor arrives a week that would have ended with Chisholm’s 100th birthday, on Saturday, November 30.
“This legislation is … an affirmation of the contribution of Shirley Anita Chisholm, who unlocked and opened doors for generations of political leaders who were excluded simply for being Black.”
Brooklyn Councilmember Farah Louis – regarding “Shirley Chisholm Day”
Earlier this year, breakout vocalist Samara Joy released an original single, “Why I’m Here,” a song so triumphant it was chosen for the Netflix film Shirley, starring Oscar winner Regina King as the title character.
Co-written with GRAMMY winner PJ Morton, “Why I’m Here” captures the inspiring drive of Chisholm. with Joy noting, “For me, this song was a representation of how Shirley Chisholm’s commitment to pursuing her purpose has affected us all, whether we realize it or not.”
The song further establishes Samara Joy as a voice to be reckoned with, both in the world of jazz and beyond. Likewise, Chisholm was a force to be reckoned with, and a passionate leader for decades.
Born in 1924 in Brooklyn as Shirley Anita St. Hill, Chisholm noted in her 1970 memoir “Unbought and Unbossed” that she was taken to Barbados at an early age to live with her grandmother, later returning to Brooklyn when she was 10. There, she lived with her parents and siblings in an “unheated, four-room, cold-water railroad flat” in Brownsville, a mostly-Jewish neighborhood at the time.
Chisholm graduated from Brooklyn College and in 1951 received a master’s degree in early childhood education from Columbia University before eventually joining the League of Women Voters and the NAACP. In 1964, she became the second African American in the New York State Legislature and in 1968 she won a seat in Congress, advocating for early childhood education, among other causes.
Chisholm represented Brooklyn’s 12th Congressional District, which covered much of Bed-Stuy, for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In recent years her legacy has been celebrated with various honors, including a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and a statue in Prospect Park approved by city officials.
In the lead up to her run for the Democratic nomination for president in 1970, Chisholm argued, “Our representative democracy is not working, because the Congress that is supposed to represent the voters does not respond to their needs. I believe the chief reason for this is that it is ruled by a small group of old men.” Chisholm’s words from more than a half-century ago echo loudly today in the wake of the most recent presidential election.
The lyrics to “Why I’m Here” follow the course of Chisholm’s trailblazing career, with the chorus, “An easy road was never promised, and so much has been from taken from us, but I won’t stop no matter how much I have to go through, I won’t shed one tear, I know why I’m here,” solidifying the icon’s tenacity in the face of oppression, racism and sexism.
In February 2024 at the 66th GRAMMY Awards, Samara Joy added to her accolades by taking home Best Jazz Performance for her single “Tight.” Self-produced, the winner features Joy with her working band – pianist Luther Allison, bassist Mikey Migliore and drummer Evan Sherman – recorded at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in NYC.
Samara Joy is currently on tour, with a few upcoming New york performances, before heading to Europe to start 2025.
December 13 – United Palace, New York, NY
Decemeber 16 – Hart Theatre at The Egg, Albany, NY
December 17 – “A Joyful Holiday” Feat. The McLendon Family – UB Center for the Arts – Mainstage Theatre, Buffalo, NY
Shirley can be seen on Netflix, starring Regina King as Chisholm and directed by Oscar winner John Ridley (“12 Years a Slave,” “Jimi: All Is By My Side”). Shirley follows Chisholm’s 1972 presidential campaign and the impact she left on modern culture.
Samara Joy “Why I’m Here” Lyrics
Fight! Fight!
Bending but never broken
Knocked down but I keep going
I’ve decided to stand my ground
I will not be moved
And I have no fear
I know why I’m here
An easy road was never promised
And so much has been taken from us
But I won’t stop no matter how much I have to go through
I won’t shed one tear
I know why I’m here
The future is in our hands
Now’s the time to stand
Together we’ll pave the way
Those who walk by faith
With their heads held high
Have the power to change the world
Bending but I can’t be broken
I’ve been knocked down
But I choose to keep going
I’ve decided to stand my ground
I will not be moved
And I have no fear
So don’t you shed one tear
Cause I know why I’m here
Ooo…
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