Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Before Hillary Clinton made history this week as the first woman to lead a majority party ticket, there was another woman who also broke down political barriers. I am talking about none other than Shirley Chisholm.
She was the first African-American woman elected to Congress and served New York’s 12th Congressional District from 1969 to 1983. She reached another plateau in 1972 when she became the first majority party Black candidate for the United States and the first woman ever to run for the Democratic Party’s Presidential nomination.
Her amazing story of triumph over adversity is coming to the screen, according to S&A, and will star “Roots” actress Anika Noni Rose. The project is simply titled “Chisholm” and will chronicle her rise to political power during the late 1960’s and early 70’s. In addition to starring as Chisholm, Rose will also produce the film which is currently under development. There is also a Facebook page about “Chisholm” that fans can like and follow to receive updates.
“Chisholm” is being produced by Creative Monster Production’s Bryan Gambogi, Grant Anderson, Debbie Brubaker, Barbara Bullard along with writers Armistead Johnson and Montserrat Mendez.
In addition to this film, Rose is also starring in the new BET pilot, “The Yard” along with Jasmine Guy, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, E. Roger Mitchell, and Larry Rhem. As previously reported, “The Yard” features Rose as Dr. Eva Fletcher, the newly-elected President of the fictional Georgia A&M University, who is charged with saving the prestigious HBCU from bankruptcy along with her twenty year marriage and her tumultuous relationship with her rebellious only daughter.
Stay tuned…
Photo Credit: Facebook/Chisholm