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Chisholm 72 : Unbought And Unbossed

2005, Movie, NR, 77 mins

Chisholm 72 : Unbought And Unbossed: Review

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Now largely remembered as a footnote to history, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm was a bracingly independent voice in American politics in the 1970s, and this well-considered documentary re-evaluates her legacy. Born in a Brooklyn brownstone in 1945, Chisholm grew up believing in the American Dream and became the nation's first African-American congresswoman. When she announced her presidential candidacy in 1972, she tapped into a national sense of disenfranchisement that cut across racial borders. Republican incumbent Richard M. Nixon had already demonstrated his ability to run a tough campaign, while Chisolm was in constant danger of getting lost among a field of twelve contenders for the Democratic nomination. Chisholm avoided platitudes and cultivated viable grass-roots support, but the reality was that Chisholm's chance of victory was slim — she knew it and hoped to gain the backing of enough delegates to the Democratic National Convention to influence her party's platform. Instead, she was criticized by fellow Democrats for siphoning off votes from the more electable choice, George McGovern; rather than rally around the underdog, both the National Organization of Women and the Black Caucus pulled the rug out from under her. Chisholm fought on the side of the angels against racism and sexism, but lacked the heavy artillery to battle the establishment; the Democrats lost the election while Chisholm kept her integrity. This portrait of grace under fire gives a firebrand her due and offers a sobering look at the back room deal-making that's part and parcel of politicking. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
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