Special Procedures: Shirley Chisholm, US Refugee Policy, and Racial Politics

• In Event: Race, Gender, and Politics

Abstract

In 1979, Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) in her role as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Task Force on Haitian Refugees delivered remarks in the House of Representatives about the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) position on U.S. policy that summarily denied Haitian refugees asylum. While the CBC members called-out the US policy for its racist and classist overtones, denying asylum to Haitian refugees because they were “economic refugees”, Mrs. Chisholm took the bold step of offering an extended critique. In so doing, Mrs. Chisholm operated as a maverick member within the CBC and created the potential to broaden the political reach of the CBC at a time when much of the discussion of foreign policy by black politicians focused on apartheid South Africa. What Mrs. Chisholm did was altruistic, but also forward thinking and a part of a longer tradition of strategic, pragmatic politics. Shirley Chisholm built a political career and legacy on creating political coalitions. Moreover, she understood the necessity of bringing in black immigrants, such as those in her home congressional district, into the political process. The result of her political strategy changed the lives of Haitian emigrees but also produced a cadre of Haitian, and other Caribbean, office holders at the local level. This is important because Chisholm is often treated as a quixotic, transformative political figure because she deigned to take on the black and white, male political establishments. Far less attention is paid, however, to Shirley Chisholm as a political strategist and legacy builder in the same way as her male colleagues. This paper takes a step back and asks how did Chisholm’s efforts on behalf of Haitian immigrants change black politics locally? Moreover, how did Chisholm’s activism on behalf of Haitian refugees push the CBC to confront the increasing heterogeneity of the black population vis-à-vis immigration? And, lastly, what is the legacy of Chisholm’s activism on the CBC in this area? I argue we should think more critically of Shirley Chisholm as a political operative whose efforts changed the trajectory of black politics beyond her 1972 presidential bid. In fact, the effects of Chisholm’s legacy are most apparent when we examine her work outside of the presidency.

Author

• Niambi M. Carter, Howard University