Final answer:
Shirley Chisholm was the first African American to seek the presidential nomination of a major political party with her candidacy in the 1972 Democratic primary. She faced opposition but still won primaries in several states and earned a significant number of delegates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first African American to seek the presidential nomination of a major political party was Shirley Chisholm. In 1972, Chisholm launched her historic presidential campaign, following her groundbreaking election to the House of Representatives as the first African-American woman in 1968. Despite facing numerous challenges, including limited access to televised debates and resistance from her peers, Chisholm won several state primaries and secured ten percent of the total Democratic delegates. Her campaign was significant not only for her own candidacy but also for its representation of women and minorities in the political process, challenging the entrenched disparities of that era.
Shirley Chisholm's presidential campaign was indicative of the increasing political influence of African Americans, following the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the diversifying political landscape of the United States. Her advocacy for education, childcare, and social programs had a lasting impact, and her legacy paved the way for future African-American presidential candidates such as Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama. Chisholm's campaign reflects a profound change in American politics, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and representation in the nation's highest offices.