Unbought and Unbossed: Expanded 40th Anniversary Edition [Paperback]

Shirley Chisholm (Author), Scott Simpson (Editor), Shola Lynch (Afterword), Donna Brazile (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2010 | ISBN-10: 098005902X | ISBN-13: 978-0980059021 | Edition: 40

Unbought and Unbossed is Shirley Chisholm's account of her remarkable rise from young girl in Brooklyn to America's first African-American Congresswoman. She shares how she took on an entrenched system, gave a public voice to millions, and sets the stage for her trailblazing bid to be the first woman and first African-American President of the United States. By daring to be herself, Shirley Chisholm shows us how she forever changed the status quo. This expanded edition, edited by Scott Simpson, digs deeper with analysis by experts like Donna Brazile and Shola Lynch exploring Shirley Chisholm’s impact on today and tomorrow’s world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Take Root Media; 40 edition (January 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 098005902X
• ISBN-13: 978-0980059021
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Enduring Spirit March 31, 2010

By Story Circle Book Reviews

Format:Paperback

This timely reissue of the autobiography of the New York Congresswoman and presidential contender, Shirley Chisholm, is a must read from an historical perspective. Originally published in 1970, the title is taken from her 1967 campaign slogan for Congress, "Unbought and Unbossed." Mrs. Chisholm was not an ordinary politician of the day. She was outspoken as the first black woman political leader to crack the gender barrier of Washington politics. Her insight into Congressional politics, as well as descriptions of New York politics, will help the reader understand the roots of the current contentious federal legislation process. Her legacy is that she challenged the status quo for politics and civil rights. I recall clearly that her life touched mine when I was a young woman growing up in New York state in the 1960's. This book is a lesson for young Americans today who are witnessing the acrimonious front page news of the divisiveness present in our political system.

Chisholm was both a genteel woman educated at a young age on the island of Barbados, and a scrappy fighter from the streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. She described herself as the "little woman who didn't know how to play the game or when to shut up." Later she writes." I don't [play by the rules] because I don't choose to. It is not because I don't know what the rules are." Her message of social equality was, and remains, strong as she presented it for future Americans.

I would have liked to see more of her "humaness." I wanted more personal disclosures and revelations of emotional moments in her life that showed how she gained the confidence to confront societal norms of the day....

Part of this story was a scathing expose of NY politics, reminding me of biographies of the Kennedys in the context of Boston politics of the day. She asked the reader, "Can their jobs [Congressional leaders] be so important to them, their prestige, their power, their privileges so important that they will cooperate in the degradation of our society just to hang on to those jobs?"

Don't be put off by the cover graphics. I thought at first the block-cut image made the book look like it was meant for high school audiences. That's not all bad, since I do hope this book finds its way into the hands of young readers.

However, I suggest that readers of all ages will get an education on politics and the inside workings of our democratic processes, which can only be good for our country in these times. Thankfully her valiant efforts led to more representation of women and minorities on Capitol Hill today. We can certainly hope those politicians have the fortitude to uphold high standards of ethics and champion social justice just as Chisholm did.

by Martha Meacham
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Articulate Expose of Race Relations and Corrupt Politics Packaged in a Memoir February 25, 2013

By Reading Junkie

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

First, the formatting was ATROCIOUS for my kindle and iPhone. Not sure if it was just this version of the book or not.

I thought this was a well-crafted memoir about a stellar and abstemious political figure who (gasp) actually wanted to do her job, i.e.- uncompromisingly serve her constituents to the best of her ability without resorting to the dirty, ineffectual, time-wasting tactics of her counterparts. Not only was this an autobiography, it was a critical exposé of the sociopolitical problems that she encountered. "Unbought and Unbossed" didn't limit itself to only issues surrounding a "Black female" in a profession dominated by White males. It demonstrably tackled deeper social, political and economical issues as well: gerrymandering; legality and morality of abortions; paying for an unnecessary war abroad without properly attending to domestic issues; sexism; equal access to education; the seniority system of Congress. Heck, Chisolm's autobio even served as a Government 101 refresher by explaining political processes and terms. By overcoming a web of racial animosities, unwarranted prejudices, and stereotypes based on her sex, Chisolm proved to be instrumental in revealing the damning flaws of American government and society. Furthermore, Chisolm revealed the popular tendency for elected leaders, Republican and Democratic alike, to fail the very people that elected them.

It is hopeful that many of the plights described in her book are not as frequent in society as they once were. I emphasize that many strides have been made in the realms of racial and sexual equality, government transparency, and education. But there's much to be done. While many think that the racially subversive ideologies of Chisolm's time are deemed antediluvian, it's simply not true.... We have only to look to current events, the failings of inner-city schools, the lack of educated minorities, and an overwhelmingly increasing number of Black youth imprisoned. Socio-politically-speaking, the issue of "race" has become a desensitized issue (I'm looking at you Ann Coulter) that reeks of condescension and ignorance. Women's rights are still in the hands of men lacking alacrity to let women decide what's best for their own bodies. The issues of the impoverished and other domestic concerns have taken a backseat to global affairs while most of our Congressmen enjoy the perks of their jobs and do zilch to help the common man. Additionally, the influences of "political machines and clubs" are still running amok in the forms of patronage, coalition politics, political posturing, catering to special interest groups, and unaccountability.

Bravo for Chisolm's boldness and profundity. Race-relations, women's rights, inner-city education, war on poverty et cetera, are all uncomfortable and hot-button topics that need to be addressed head-on. I encourage all -regardless of race, creed, age, color, sex, national origin, or religion - to give this book a read and jump start meaningful dialogues. Here are some of the essential themes and quotes I picked up on in "Unbought and Unbossed" (hint: there's just too many gems):

1. Women's Rights
"It is true that women have seldom been aggressive in demanding their rights and so have cooperated in their own enslavement. This was true of the black population for many years. They submitted to oppression, and even condoned it. But women are becoming aware, as blacks did, that they can have equal treatment if they will fight for it, and they are starting to organize. To do it, they will have to dare the sanctions that society imposes on anyone who breaks with its traditions," (Chapter 15).

2. Understanding the Game of Politics
"Political organizations are formed to keep the powerful in power. Their first rule is "Don't rock the boat,"" (Chapter 4).

"...My present attitude toward politics as it is practiced in the United States: it is a beautiful fraud that has been imposed on the people for years, whose practitioners exchange gilded promises for the most valuable thing their victims own, their votes. And who benefits most? The lawyers," (Chapter 4)

"The rules of the political game are designed to make it possible for men in power to control the actions of their supporters and stay there. If they can't control someone, they are disturbed. It is a threat to their security," (Chapter 6).

"There is little place in the political scheme of things for an independent, creative personality, for a fighter. Anyone who takes that role must pay a price," (Chapter 6).

3. The Lackadaisical Attitude of Congress
"Congress seemed drugged and inert most of the time. Even when the problems it ignores build up to crises and erupt in strikes, riots and demonstrations, it is not moved. Its idea of meeting a problem is to hold hearings or, in extreme cases, to appoint a commission," (Chapter 10).

"Who is it that Congress represents? Would things be different if citizens were more highly organized and better able to articulate and emphasize their desires? This is a serious problem that has to be solved if the democratic process is going to work in a nation as large and complex as ours. As it is now, Congress is just making believe. It is going through motions to make the votes think a democratic process is going on," (Chapter 10).

4. Just What Exactly do the Negroes Want?
An audience member asked Chisolm: "What do you Negroes want now? You all aren't doing too bad. In fact, you're doing a lot better than some of the white people."

"My God, what do we want? What does any human being want? Take away an accident of pigmentation of a thin layer of our outer skin and there is no difference between me and anyone else. All we want is for that trivial difference to make no difference. What can I say to a man who asks that? All I can do is try to explain to him why he asks the question. You have looked at us for years as different from you that you may never see us really. You don't understand because you think of us as second-class humans. We have been passive and accommodating through so many years of your insults and delays that you think the way things used to be is normal. When the good-natured, spiritual-singing boys and girls rise up against the white man and demand to be treated like he is, you are bewildered. All we want is what you want, no less and no more," (Chapter 13).

4. Lessons for All
Many of Shirley's lessons can be applied to all Americans. In a pervasive culture of political gridlock, this book reads like a call to arms. Patience and trust in our elected officials has seemed to get no results for the everyday joe. "From the beginning I felt that there were only two ways to create change for black people in this country - either politically or by opened armed revolution. Malcolm defined it succinctly - the ballot or the bullet. Since I believe that human life is uniquely valuable and important, for me the choice had to be the creative use of the ballot. I still believe I was right. I hope America never succeeds in changing my mind," (end of Chapter 13).

5. Protecting the Right to be Human and to Be Heard
"In the end, anti-black, anti-female, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing - anti-humanism," (Chapter 15).

"Until a problem reaches their doorsteps, they're not going to understand. They won't become involved in economic or political change until something brings the seriousness of the situation home to them. Until they are threatened, why should they change a system that has been fairly beneficial for a fairly large number of people? It is going to have to the have-nots - the blacks, browns, reds, yellows, and whites who do not share in the good life that most Americans lead - who somehow arouse the conscience of the nation and thus create a conscience in the Congress," (Chapter 10). Read more ›

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read April 8, 2013

By Normadene

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The book is timeless! Many of Ms. Chisholm's observations from the 1960's and 1970's are no diffrent from today's political times. She was a great leader and a proud black woman.