Shirley Chisholm, first black woman elected to Congress, to be honored with statue in New York City

Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, will be honored with a statue in New York City’s Prospect Park in 2020.

The former Democratic lawmaker, who was also the first woman to seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for president, died in 2005.

She Built NYC, a New York City commission aimed at erecting more monuments to women, selected Chisholm as the first figure to be honored, according to The New York Times.

Plans for the statue, which may cost up to $1 million, were announced on Nov. 30, what would have been Chisholm’s 94th birthday.

Chisholm represented New York’s 12th District from 1969 to 1983. The lawmaker inspired a generation of women to run for office, and is known for her quote: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

New York City’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, told the Times that she hopes putting up a statue of Chisholm will “encourage even more” women to enter politics.

“I can’t think about her and what she accomplished before and after her run and not think ‘Oh, maybe I should do that too, you know?’ She really set an example, for all of us,” McCray said.

City officials plan to select an artist for the statue early next year, according to the Times.

An upcoming biopic on Chisholm will star actress Viola Davis as the late congresswoman.