--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I stand before you today as a candidate…" description: "\"I stand before you today as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States. I am not the candidate of black America,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/shirley-chisholm-5073_america_i-stand-before-you-today-as-a-candidate_374037.jpg" --- # I stand before you today as a candidate for the Democratic… ![“I stand before you today as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States. I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I'm not the candidate of the women's movement of this country, although I am a woman, and I'm equally proud of…” quote by Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/shirley-chisholm-5073_america_i-stand-before-you-today-as-a-candidate_374037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/shirley-chisholm-5073_america_i-stand-before-you-today-as-a-candidate_374037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/shirley-chisholm-5073_america_i-stand-before-you-today-as-a-candidate_374037.jpg) > “I stand before you today as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States. I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I'm not the candidate of the women's movement of this country, although I am a woman, and I'm equally proud of that. I am not the candidate of any political bosses or fat cats or special interests... I am the candidate of the people...” [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She emphasizes her identity and independence from special interests, positioning herself as a representative of all people. **In simple terms:** She claims to be a candidate for everyone, not just specific groups. Key Takeaway Champion inclusive representation. Themes politics identity representation Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - campaign speeches - grassroots organizing - policy debates - media interviews Key Concepts intersectionality grassroots democracy leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance identity with universal appeal? - What concrete steps build trust across diverse groups? A Different Perspective May face criticism for broad claims without specific policies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-america/) [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) [Candidate Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate-democratic-3406012/) [Candidate People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate-people-1190942/) [Candidates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidates/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Nominations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nominations/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Proud Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud-candidate-2017686/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-interests/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Today Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-candidate-714105/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [“I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud; I am not the candidate of the women's movement of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-not-the-candidate-of-black-america-although-i-am-black-and-proud/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the woman's movement of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-not-the-candidate-of-black-america-although-i-am-black-and-proud-2/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Today, I'm a candidate for the office of president of the United States of America. My kids can't believe I just said that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/today-i-m-a-candidate-for-the-office-of-president-of-the-united/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [I see a big difference between the Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/i-see-a-big-difference-between-the-republican-candidate-and-the/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [I interviewed Biden once as a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination and once as president-elect. Each time, he made a personal pronouncement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-interviewed-biden-once-as-a-candidate-for-the-democratic/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Barack Obama is probably the most exciting candidate that either the Democratic or Republican party has produced at least since I've been around. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/barack-obama-is-probably-the-most-exciting-candidate-that-either-the/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I am very proud to be the only candidate up here who does not have a Super PAC, who's not raising huge sums of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-am-very-proud-to-be-the-only-candidate-up-here-who-does-not-have-a/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I don't see a candidate on the scene right now, but it is going to have to be a candidate that people can look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-nixon-eisenhower/i-don-t-see-a-candidate-on-the-scene-right-now-but-it-is-going-to/) [Julie Nixon Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-nixon-eisenhower/) > [I think I might as well give up being a candidate. There are so many people in the country who don't like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/i-think-i-might-as-well-give-up-being-a-candidate-there-are-so-many/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [When the Kerner Commission told white America what black America has always known, that prejudice and hatred built the nation’s slums, maintains them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/when-the-kerner-commission-told-white-america-what-black-america-has/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Audiences want great story telling; it's why white people watch my show 'Black in America.' It's why black people watch 'Latina in America.' All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/audiences-want-great-story-telling-it-s-why-white-people-watch-my/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [It is utterly exhausting being Black in America - physically, mentally, and emotionally. While many minority groups and women feel similar stress, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-utterly-exhausting-being-black-in-america-physically-mentally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Jeremiah Wright is one of the greatest prophetic preachers that black America has produced. What I find striking is that many white brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/jeremiah-wright-is-one-of-the-greatest-prophetic-preachers-that-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Most of black America is in housing projects, without jobs, living on welfare. And this is not the case in 'The Cosby Show,' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/most-of-black-america-is-in-housing-projects-without-jobs-living-on/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) ## More by Shirley Chisholm > [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/tremendous-amounts-of-talent-are-lost-to-our-society-just-because/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [It is not heroin or cocaine that makes one an addict, it is the need to escape from a harsh reality. There are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-not-heroin-or-cocaine-that-makes-one-an-addict-it-is-the-need/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I love America not for what she is, but for what she can become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-love-america-not-for-what-she-is-but-for-what-she-can-become/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I am and always will be a catalyst for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-and-always-will-be-a-catalyst-for-change/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The liberals in the House strongly resemble liberals I have known through the last two decades in the civil rights conflict. When it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-liberals-in-the-house-strongly-resemble-liberals-i-have-known/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I am not antiwhite, because I understand that white people, like black ones, are victims of a racist society. They are products of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-not-antiwhite-because-i-understand-that-white-people-like-black/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says: It's a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-emotional-sexual-and-psychological-stereotyping-of-females-begins/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I had met far more discrimination because I am a woman than because I am black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-had-met-far-more-discrimination-because-i-am-a-woman-than-because-i/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Some fine men are in Congress, too few, trying to do a responsible job. But they are surrounded and almost neutralized by a greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/some-fine-men-are-in-congress-too-few-trying-to-do-a-responsible-job/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“Following along the path of her role models, Shirley knew that if she waited for permission, she’d never receive her turn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/following-along-the-path-of-her-role-models-shirley-knew-that-if-she/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I ran because somebody had to do it first. In this country, everybody is supposed to be able to run for president, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-ran-because-somebody-had-to-do-it-first-in-this-country-everybody/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“The most tragic error into which older people can fall is one that is common among educators and politicians. It is to use youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-most-tragic-error-into-which-older-people-can-fall-is-one-that-is/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I have never cared too much what people say. What I am interested in is what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-have-never-cared-too-much-what-people-say-what-i-am-interested-in/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) [Explore all 103 Shirley Chisholm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I stand before you today as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States. I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. 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