On Thursday, the SCP was joined by Regina King, Reina King, and Dr. Hazel Dukes to assemble around, reflect on, and celebrate the life of the Hon. Shirley Chisholm. November 2024 marks what would be the 100th birthday of the Congresswoman.
Dr. Hazel Dukes is the President of the New York Conference of the NAACP and a lifelong activist for civil and human rights. After becoming the first recipient of the Shirley Chisholm Project’s Legacy Award, she reflected on her memories of Shirley Chisholm, serving as a campaign worker on the ‘72 presidential campaign, and the Congresswoman’s historic appearance at the 1972 Democratic National Convention. She also offered attendees of the celebration words of wisdom for continuing the fight to create the humane society Shirley Chisholm envisioned.
On Thursday, Reina and Regina King both accepted the very first Shirley Chisholm Project Trailblazer Award for their work bringing the story of Shirley Chisholm’s presidential campaign to world audiences through their production company Royal Ties. Shirley, released by Netflix earlier this year, was the first feature-length portrayal of Shirley Chisholm. In addition to their roles producing the film, the King sisters also acted in the film. Regina King starred as Congresswoman Chisholm and Reina King portrayed her sister Muriel St. Hill. Dr. Zinga Fraser, SCP director and historical consultant for Shirley, led a discussion with the Kings on the challenges of bringing Shirley Chisholm’s presidential campaign (and other snapshots of African American history) to film.
For Chisholm Day 2024, we also continued our tradition of asking Brooklyn College students and recent graduates to speak on Shirley Chisholm’s significance to them. This year, undergraduate Hibah Zainab and recent BC graduate Zekiyyah Joyner offered reflections. In addition, we were also joined by Yolanda Lezama-Clark. Lezama Clark was a friend of Chisholm and has served as president of the NYC West Indian Day Parade. Her father Carlos Lezama founded the parade.
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Our Shirley Chisholm Centennial Celebration was held in Woody Tanger Auditorium in the Brooklyn College Library and was attended by a packed audience of Brooklyn College students, members of the Brooklyn Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and members of the broader CUNY and NYC community.
If you would like to see the Chisholm Project continue public programs like Chisholm Day, please consider making a donation. Use the QR code below.
