California History Shines in Netflix’s “Shirley”

by Rafiq Taylor

When will the political world be ready for Shirley Chisholm?

Shirley Chisholm campaigns passionately from the podium.

This question rests in the back of my mind after viewing Regina King’s powerful portrayal of the figure in Netflix’s new biopic, Shirley. The Hollywood examination of the life of the first black woman to run for president as a Democrat follows a familiar formula. Like many biographical pictures that are products of Hollywood’s mainstream studio system, we are delivered an educational story about The American Dream: to work hard and to see success from that labor. This underdog story makes for good entertainment and a good refresher on who Shirley Chisholm was. That said, I do think the film, while adequately capturing Chisholm’s achievements, lags in its ability to capture the nature of her legacy.

But it does have its moments. A key, accurate theme that expresses itself through her characterization is her resentment for the “game” of politics and her troublesomely large capacity for empathy. The film, which quickly shifts its focus to Chisholm’s presidential campaign after her successfully entering Congress, places a special emphasis on California as an important battleground. When Chisholm’s team brings the state up, citing its natural alignment with her core constituency, her immediate assessment is that “It’s a big, shiny object that will leave us distracted and defeated.”

Shirley Chisholm (Regina King) and Barbara Lee (Christina Jackson) meet for the first time.

The film continues as her campaign did, re-enacting Chisholm’s notable campaign moments and controversies. Particular attention is paid to her time in Florida, where she campaigned opposing George Wallace. Not sacrificing her talent for nuance, her perspective regarding integrated bussing is callously conflated with George Wallace’s. Not compromising her capacity for empathy, she visits George Wallace in the hospital after he is shot five times. This also did not read well in the media at the time.

Towards the end of this difficult road, California transitions from a distraction to a last-ditch effort for Chisholm, and in her fight for the primary she faced both support and opposition from unexpected sources. Her mentee, California native and current representative for the 12th district Barbara Lee (Christina Jackson), was busy activating The Black Panther Party. This went well until the hospital visit. Unexpectedly, fortune strikes the campaign as groundbreaking actress Diahann Carroll (Amirah Vann) invites Shirley to meet with Huey Newton himself (Brad James).

This was a meeting that actually happened. Within the context of California’s history, it represents another example of the connectivity that exists between the realms of entertainment and political action. This connectivity represents California’s unique necessity for nuance. Chisholm left that meeting with the Panthers’ endorsement.

Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Lee pose for a photo.

Unbought and unbossed, it was her unique attention to detail and unwavering empathy that found a way to flower. California became the space where her groundbreaking campaign donned its wings, even if the harsh mechanism of the American political system prevented its flight. In reflecting on the true events depicted in the film, there is an inherent irony in the way the film follows the “underdog” movie formula. Chisholm’s campaign was never, at its roots, about her. It was about all of us. So that’s why I can’t help but wonder as another US Election looms: when will the political world be ready for Shirley Chisholm?