Artist Statement
Shirley Chisholm shattered a glass ceiling as the first African-American woman elected to Congress. She fought tirelessly for the Equal Rights Amendment, which guarantees equal rights to all Americans regardless of their gender. To me, Shirley Chisholm embodies diversity and inclusion because she gave a voice to many Americans whose needs went unheard by our government because of their race or sex. In my painting, I portrayed Shirley as a colorful beacon of hope whose legacy will be passed down for generations to come.