Includes bibliographical references (pages 439-452) and index.

Introduction: Beyond the Symbol -- Daughter of the Caribbean -- In Pursuit of the Highest in All: The Making of a Young Intellectual -- Brooklyn Politics -- The First Victory -- Bringing Women's Rights and Civil Rights Together -- Unbought and Unbossed -- Fighting Shirley Chisholm -- Building the Chisholm Mystique -- Black Feminist Power Politics on Capitol Hill -- Guns, Butter, and Justice -- The Book: A Black Feminist Power Manifesto -- Institution Building: The Congressional Black Caucus and the National Women's Political Caucus -- Chisholm '72 -- The Challenges of Coalitions on the Chisholm Trail -- Winning Delegates on the Chisholm Trail -- The Chisholm Coalition on the National Stage: Miami '72 -- Coalition Politics in Congress, 1972-1976 -- Fighting the Tide, 1977-1982 -- Professor and Chair -- Epilogue: Bring a Folding Chair.

"Shaking up New York and national politics by becoming the first African American congresswoman and, later, the first Black major-party presidential candidate, Shirley Chisholm left an indelible mark as an 'unbought and unbossed' firebrand and a leader in politics for meaningful change. Anastasia C. Curwood interweaves Chisholm's public image, political commitments, and private experiences to create a definitive account of a consequential life"-- Provided by publisher.