Chisholm '72: Unbought & Unbossed

76mins/ 2004/ US/ Dir. Shola Lynch

In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first black woman elected to Congress. By 1972, she was the first black woman to run for president.

1972 was an extraordinary year. Richard Nixon was president, running for his second, ill-fated term. The voting age had just changed from 21 to 18, and millions of new voters were expected at the polls. The Vietnam War was in full swing, as were anti-war protests, a burgeoning women’s movement, and the rise of the Black Panther Party. Into the center of this maelstrom — shocking the conventional political wisdom — stepped Shirley Chisholm, a determined, rather prim and unapologetically liberal black woman with a powerful message: Exercise the full measure of your citizenship and vote.

“I ran for the presidency, despite hopeless odds, to demonstrate sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo.” Shirley Chisholm

Plus discussion: Women, Race & Politics

Hosted by Jyoti Bhojani

Since graduating from the University of East Anglia with a degree in Politics, Jyoti has worked at Operation Black Vote, working at a grass roots level trying to get Black and Minority Ethnic communities to play a full and positive role in the democratic process. Whilst there Jyoti worked with a range of prominent people including, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton. Jyoti is currently working on BME Campaigns at the Electoral Reform Society and has previously worked for an MP.

With Mia Morris

Mia Morris runs the Well Placed Consultancy as well as the International Women’s Month and Black History Month websites. She also co publishes the award winning publication Black History 365. Her clients include the Black Cultural Archives where she currently co ordinates the Oral History Project on the Black Women’s Movement. Mia was a member of OWAAD and ELBWO the East London Black Women’s Organisation in Forest Gate.  

Screened in collaboration with Images of Black Women