By Alana Matthew

As part of the Netflix press run for their newest historical biopic, “Shirley,” detailing the 1972 presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm, the National Museum of African American History and Culture held a screening and Q&A on Tuesday. 

Chisholm’s campaign marked a historical event, as she was the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s nomination for president. However, she’d been involved with politics long before 1972. Her pioneer status had been earned back in 1968 when she became the first Black woman elected to the US Congress. 

Regina King plays the trailblazer and Brooklyn native and produces it with her sister, Raina King, who also plays Chilsolm’s sister Muriel. The star-studded cast includes the late Lance Reddick, Terrance Howard, Brian Stokes Mitchell and more. 

The film was also written and directed by John Ridley, who is known for producing 12 Years a Slave. According to Raina King, the project took about 15 years to complete.  

Representative Barbara Lee of California, portrayed by Christina Jackson in the film, was also in attendance and spoke to Chisholm’s legacy of getting young people, such as herself, involved in politics back in 1972.

Representative Barbara Lee addresses the crowd about her involvement with the presidential campaign and how Chisholm led her to her beginning in politics before the viewing of the film begins.  (Alana Matthew/Howard University News Service)

“As I reflect on my involvement with the honorable Shirley Chisholm, it was when so many young people didn’t want to participate, didn’t want to vote,” she said. “It took that one woman, that one Black woman, who was unbought and unbossed to get me involved.”

Members of the Black Congressional Caucus, the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. members and community members were invited to attend. 

Many also spoke about how they watched Chisholm campaign, heard of her legacy and were inspired to become involved. 

The cast and crew from the film, John Ridley, Raina King, Brain Micheal Stokes, Christina Jackson, and Dorian Missick (from left to right), discussed the film in a moderated panel. (Alana Matthew/Howard University News Service)

“I know there are a lot of young people who are not familiar with Shirley Chisholm and how much she has done for us as a people, for our government,” Mitchell said regarding what this movie is aiming to do. 

After the film, a Q&A with Ridley, Raina King, Mitchell, Jackson, and Dorian Missick illuminated Gen-Z’s importance in politics and how the movie’s timing with the November election fuels that.

“To be able to tell that story and kind of ignite a new audience, and ignite young people,” Mitchell said. 

Jackson also gave remarks about how important it is for young people to be cognizant of the legacies left for us and the importance of continuing to move forward.

“We’re giving you this film to educate you, to inspire you, to set you on fire because this country is yours, because your districts are yours, because the stories are yours,” she said. “We have a responsibility as citizens to keep and make this country how it should be.” 

Jael Colbourne, a junior honors media management major and economics minor at Howard University from the Bronx, New York, watched the film, which inspired her to use her vote.

“It did inspire me to vote,” she said. “I think a lot of times it seems like my vote doesn’t matter, especially as a Black woman, but anything I could do to help is how I think about it now.”

Natalia Wilson, a senior political science major and legal communications minor at Howard University from Coral Springs, Florida, and an intern at the House of Representatives said she benefits from Chilsolm’s legacy in her own pursuits of politics.

“I’m inspired by her persistence,” she said. “What we can learn about Shirley Chisholm’s story is it’s not all about winning. Change can be created regardless of the outcome.”

The movie premieres exclusively on Netflix on March 22.