orig. Shirley Anita St. Hill
born Nov. 30, 1924, Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S.
died Jan. 1, 2005, Ormond Beach, Fla.
U.S. politician.
A graduate of Columbia University (M.A., 1952), she was a schoolteacher before becoming active in local politics. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1968, she became the first African American woman to serve in Congress. During her 15 years in the House, she was known for her strong liberal views, including her opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and her advocacy of full-employment programs. She cofounded the National Women's Political Caucus. As a candidate for the Democratic Party's 1972 U.S. presidential nomination, she won 152 delegates before withdrawing from the race.