"Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed,"
playing now at BAM Rose Cinemas, examines Brooklyn native Shirley
Chisholm’s campaign to become the nation’s first black, female
presidential nominee. It leaves the viewer wondering just how
far we’ve come in including all Americans in the body politic
and energetically demonstrates the difference one person can
make when they participate in the process.
With a funky soundtrack and stylish editing of archival footage,
Shola Lynch’s documentary ponders whether Chisholm was a trailblazer
– her campaign theme song encouraged folks to join the "Chisholm
Trail" – or if her trail has gone cold. More than 30 years
later, there has yet to be a minority elected president of the
United States; the two candidates in this election year are still
two wealthy white men.
So what’s to be learned from Chisholm’s courageous, pioneering
early steps? A lot.
On Thursday, Brooklyn College’s Women’s Studies program named
its new Center for the Study of Women after Chisholm, a Brooklyn
College alum, class of 1946. Born Nov. 30, 1924, Shirley Anita
St. Hill Chisholm participated in Bedford-Stuyvesant politics
and was elected assemblywoman in 1964. In ’68, she campaigned
to represent New York’s 12th Congressional District with the
slogan, "Fighting Shirley Chisholm – Unbought and Unbossed."
She won.
The first black woman elected to Congress, she served from 1968
to 1983. She is now retired and living in Florida.
"Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed" is Lynch’s first
film. It seems that three decades later, Chisholm is still inspiring
women to do work that matters and make their voices heard.
"Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed" runs through
Sept. 30 at the BAM Rose Cinemas (30 Lafayette Ave. at Ashland
Place in Fort Greene). Tickets are $10. For screening times,
call (718) 636-4100 or visit www.bam.org.
