http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles..._of_a_pioneer/
Quote:
Shirley Chisholm was a remarkable woman who boldly ran for president of the United States in 1972 during the tumultuous days of the Vietnam War, the women's movement, and the Black Panther Party.
Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to the US Congress, died last month at the age of 80, but her fiery spirit lives on in the riveting PBS documentary ''Chisholm '72 -- Unbought & Unbossed," which airs tonight on WGBH (Channel 2) at 10 as part of Black History Month. The 90-minute film is part of PBS's ''P.O.V." independent film series.
''Chisholm '72" is rich in details about the history-making era when President Richard Nixon was running for his second term, the voting age was changed from 21 to 18, and Walter Cronkite was in his heyday. Reporting on Chisholm's run, Cronkite quipped, ''A new hat -- rather, a bonnet -- was tossed into the presidential race today."
The film goes on, through archival news footage, interviews with observers, and even period music, to evoke Chisholm's groundbreaking campaign to represent the poor, the young, women, people of color, gays, and other marginalized citizens. Although she never expected to win, she ran against the odds ''to demonstrate sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo," Chisholm says in the film.
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I saw this documentary last night, and i have to say, I was extremely impressed, with her, with the documentary, and with the other people they interviewed. Wow, this is really worth seeing.
I alos thought how sad it is today that for most blacks, their role models are Shaq, Alen Iverson, Snoop Dogg, and P Diddy.
Listening to these guys from the Black Panthers, and to Shirley, and the dozens of other blacks that they interviewed, it would have seemed like there was nothing that these people couldn't accomplish, and they were all extremely well versed and poised.
It makes me angery that these aren't the role models of our children, but that instead spoiled millionars and wannabe gansters are
02-08-2005, 04:55 AM
Shirley Chisolm
