Shirley, following Shirley Chisholm’s historic run for president, has landed on Netflix. The biopic is a 15 year passion project between sisters Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) and Reina King (To Sleep with Anger). Boasting a 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has been well received thanks to pitch perfect casting, and its director John Ridley (American Crime).
“I always date back to whatever year Regina won the Oscar because we literally had a meeting with John that next day and took the project out and pitched it to find a home,” Reina King said. “We always wanted John.”
Shirley Chisholm was a pivotal figure in the Congressional Black Caucus. One of the caucus’ most senior members, Barbara Lee, weighed in during the film’s production. In an interview with NBC, Lee said, “I’m so happy the film is coming out now, especially during this moment where so many people feel disconnected to the political process and can see how she forced it to respond to her and wouldn’t just stand on the sidelines. She was determined that she was going to be seen, heard and make significant changes.”
“I didn’t believe democracy was really working for people like me and others,” she said. “She convinced me that I could make a difference politically through the political process.”
Historian Glenn L. Starks, Phd, authored A seat at the Table: The Life and Times of Shirley Chishom. In an article with Forbes, he said, “Her whole life in Brooklyn, running for the New York Assembly, her whole life in Congress, she always ran as the underdog who went out and supported women’s rights, gay rights, poor people,” Starks explained. “She supported people whose voices were not heard. She was tired of people getting votes from the Black community, but never doing anything for them. From the time she got involved in politics in college, it’s really who she was.”
“So many things that were happening during the 70s and 2024 feels the same,” Regina King said. “I keep saying if Shirley were alive today, she’d be on the ballot, and she’d be president.”
Shirley is streaming on Netflix now.
