John, I was looking through some old pictures, and I wanted to share this one with you. 

That's Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and I at the Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach during her historic presidential campaign. I was 25 at the time, and I remember so vividly the feeling of knowing I was a part of something bigger than myself – a part of history.

But before I tell you more about that day, I want to take a step back and tell you about the day I met Shirley Chisholm. 

I had the honor of meeting Congresswoman Chisholm when I was in college. I was juggling being a student at Mills College with being a young, single mom on public assistance and food stamps. And I was just so tired of those in power ignoring the issues that were important to me as a Black single mother and to those in my community – issues like child care, public education, universal health care and ending poverty.

As president of the Black Student Union at Mills College, I had invited Congresswoman Chisholm to address our group – and I had no idea until her speech that she was running for president.

I remember being so inspired that someone who looked like me and held the same progressive values I did had a shot at becoming president – and I decided before her speech was even over that I had to become a part of her campaign.

And the rest is history. John, I'll never forget what it was like to represent Congresswoman Chisholm at the Democratic Convention or the feeling of casting my vote – my first time voting ever! – for a Black woman to be president of the United States. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm awoke a fire in me that I never knew I had – and that fire is still burning in me today.

John, I'm proud to say that I'm running for Senate, where there are currently no other Black women serving, but I need your help. Will you chip in $5 to my campaign now so I can honor Shirley Chisholm by shattering the glass ceiling?

Thank you for listening to my story.

Barbara Lee