SHIRLEY

Writer/Director: John Ridley
Starring: Regina King, Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Terrence Howard, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Reina King, André Holland

Shirley Chisholm is a political trailblazer, and yet, her name and legacy may not be known to many. Oscar and Emmy winner Regina King brings her story to life in the new Netflix film, Shirley. King gives a commanding performance as Shirley Chisholm. Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968. The film uses this to introduce the audience to her and then cuts to 1972 when she decided to run for President of the United States. She knew the race is stacked against her as no one will vote for a Black woman as president. She persisted by getting some money raised and hiring a team around her including Lucas Hedges who plays her National Student Coordinator and Lance Reddick as her chief advisor. Chisholm’s politic slogan was “unbought and unbossed” and she pushed way through gender and race politics to form a grassroots campaign for the White House. Now in theaters and will be streaming on Netflix March 22

Here’s my review