The true story of behind Netflix’s Shirley Chisholm biopic, ‘Shirley’

By Samantha Kubota via https://www.today.com/

Netflix’s new film “Shirley” tells the true story of Shirley Chisholm, who was the first Black woman elected to U.S. Congress.

Former U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s historic 1972 run for president is the subject of a new film on Netflix starting March 22.

The film stars Regina King as the history-making politician, who was the first Black woman elected to U.S. Congress and both the first woman and first Black person to make a legitimate bid for president.

The film also hints at some of the behind-the-scenes drama in Chisholm’s life — her crumbling marriage and difficult (at times) relationship with her sister.

Creating the film “Shirley” took around 15 years, Reina King, who plays Chisholm’ sister Muriel St. Hill alongside her real-life sister Regina King, tells TODAY.com. She says she and her sister felt a mission to share the late Chisholm’s story.

Reina King says she often asked people if they knew about Shirley Chisholm, and “no one knew.”

“And that was disappointing,” she says. “And that was just disheartening.”

Reina King only knew about the politician though her own independent studies, not school.

“She wasn’t incorporated in curriculum at any point, not even in Black History Month,” she says. “Someone that has such a large contribution…

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