If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a… — Shirley Chisholm | Printable Wall Art

“If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

Words by Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) — First Black woman elected to the US Congress.

About this quote

This line encourages people to assert themselves in spaces where they are overlooked or excluded. Rather than waiting for an invitation or acceptance from traditional authority figures, one should actively create a place for oneself. It is a call to take initiative, claim agency, and insist on being heard in decision-making processes.

Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, used this phrase to summarise her political philosophy. Throughout her career in the 1960s and 1970s, she consistently advocated for political representation for marginalised groups.

People often hang this print in a home office or study as a daily reminder to speak up.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.