Shirley Chisholm was an American politician, educator, and author. In 1968, she became the first African-American woman elected to the United States Congress, and represented New York 's 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. On May 21, 1969 Washington D.C Shirley Chisholm delivered a speech to the United States House of Representatives about equal rights for women. Being an African American woman, Shirley personally was able to relate to the speech she gave. Based on her own personal proof and fueled by experience, her “Equal Rights for Women” speech was very persuasive. Chisholm’s speech is centered on equality which is fitting with the other values she was known for fighting for such as: minority education and employment opportunities. Invention The first cannon of rhetoric is invention. Invention is all about coming up with the main idea of a speech and coming up with good ideas. Invention generally refers to a wide variety of research, methods and discovery strategies. To be effective, invention must take into consideration the background, needs and interests of the audience. The goal is to create an effective argument that supports the claim trying to be proved. It should be precise and back up the conclusion/ claim. Chisholm not only brought age and experience to the stage, she also brought her diverse background and her educational experience. The essence of the speech relies on Chisholm’s fundamental ability and her own personal