Viola Davis is starring as the first Black congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.
Amazon recently announced plans for “The Fighting Shirley Chisholm.” The biopic will be produced by Davis and will highlight Chisholm’s career as a politician, educator, author, and activist. The announcement comes on the 50th anniversary of her election to Congress becoming America’s first Black congresswoman. She went on to also become the first woman and the first person of color to run for president for a major U.S. party.
Chisholm will also be honored in Brooklyn with a newly built statue.
“This is the place where so many people are going to come for inspiration,” explained NYC council member Laurie Cumbo. “She has inspired dozens, thousands of women to run for office and to hold that power.”
Chisholm’s statue will be the first project by She built NYC, an initiative by NYC’s First Lady Chirlane McCray, to increase women’s representation in public art and monuments. Currently there are only five statues of historic women in New York City, and all of them are in Manhattan.
Chisholm passed away in 2005, but many say her legacy lives on through the success of women nationwide.
“There are so many women, more than ever that are now claiming their rightful place in the House and the Senate, a record number,” stated Cumbo. “And we are all here, holding these powerful positions because of Shirley Chisholm.”
