Unforgotten Casebook — One case. Every angle. One place.
← Case library

1968–1972 · Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Shirley Chisholm

Civil rights & equality

Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress and later sought the Democratic presidential nomination. Her campaign challenged assumptions about who could seek national office. Her writing and the film Shirley explore the independence, coalition-building and resistance that shaped that effort.

View timeline →
Content note

Source note: screen portrayals may condense events or use fictional characters. Books and films are identified separately; a companion book is not necessarily the film’s source.

EXPLORE THE CASE

The Story

Start Here
When1968–1972
WhereBrooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C.
In this collection3 resources

Start here.

A starting point from this case’s collection. Choose a format, then explore the source details.

Where are they now?

No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.

Nicknames & media names

No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.

EXPLORE THE CASE

Family Tree

People & Relationships

The family relationships behind the story, gathered in one place.

Selected relationships only—not a complete genealogy. A family connection does not imply involvement in a crime.

About These Family Trees

These original diagrams summarize relationships reported by the linked sources. Community genealogy sites can contain errors and are not proof of identity or parentage. Full trees or record images may require an account. We omit speculative relationships, private contact details and unrelated living descendants.

Sources reviewed September 15, 2026. Suggest a sourced correction.

EXPLORE THE CASE

Blogs & Essays

The Journal

Read our articles here and explore outside perspectives, credited to their writers and publications. See this case in the Journal →

From the journal

No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.

Blogs & essays

1 items
About these sources

Outside essays and reading guides reflect their authors’ perspectives. Compare claims with reported and primary sources.

Historical source

The history and research behind Shirley

Netflix’s production account identifies Chisholm’s books among the sources consulted and explains the focus on her 1972 campaign.

EXPLORE THE CASE

Books

Read The Story

CONTINUE YOUR READING

Search this case on Amazon · paid link

Search results may include unrelated titles. Check the author, edition, and case connection before purchasing.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure

Explore Free & Library Reading →

Books

1 items

Shirley Chisholm

Unbought and Unbossed

Chisholm’s autobiographical political account. The Smithsonian holds an edition; Netflix’s production notes identify her books among the filmmakers’ research sources.

Search Amazon · paid linkExplore this book

Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.

Explore books & audio connecting several cases →

EXPLORE THE CASE

Movies & TV

Documentaries & Adaptations

Movies

1 items
About these sources

Watch links, previews and title listings are identified below. Rentals or subscriptions may be required.

Film / television guide

Shirley (2024)

Dramatized portrayal of these events. Film information and availability are provided by the linked source; dialogue and chronology may differ from the historical record.

Search Amazon · paid linkViewing options & film details

Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.

TV & documentaries

No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.

Fiction Work · 1 adaptations & inspirations

Fiction Work

Browse all →

Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.

Film / television guide

Shirley (2024)

Dramatized portrayal of these events. Film information and availability are provided by the linked source; dialogue and chronology may differ from the historical record.

Search Amazon · paid linkViewing options & film details

Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.

EXPLORE THE CASE

Podcasts & Audio

Listen & Explore

Podcasts

No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.

EXPLORE THE CASE

Social Media

Videos & Conversations

Social Media

No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.

EXPLORE THE CASE

News & Reading

Reporting, Clippings & Archives

Free & Library Reading

3 sources

Explore free articles, book previews and library options. The label on each item explains what you can access; a catalog entry does not mean the whole book is free.

Library of Congress · Free Article

Books - Shirley Chisholm: A Resource Guide

Publicly accessible source material and historical context related to this story.

Read Article

Library of Congress · Free Article

Introduction - Shirley Chisholm: A Resource Guide

Publicly accessible source material and historical context related to this story.

Read Article

Google Books · Magazine Archive · Preview / Limited Pages

Jet — July 27, 1992

Indexed coverage of Shirley Chisholm. Explore the magazine viewer; available pages may vary.

Explore Preview
Reading Access Notes

Search reviewed 2026-09-15. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine. Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait.

A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.

News & reporting

No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.

Newspaper clippings

0 items

Featured newspaper clipping

No newspaper image has been cleared for display for this case yet. Explore the archive below.

Keep following the newspaper trail.

Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.

Explore more on Newspapers.com

Newspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.

Internet Archive

No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.

EXPLORE THE CASE

Court & Files

Explore The Documents

Court records & documents

0 items
About these sources

Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.

No accessible court document has been verified for this case yet.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

EXPLORE THE CASE

Roads Traveled

Maps & Locations

Roads Traveled

Open case map →

Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C.. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.

Where this story happened

Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Highlighted states show regional context, not exact addresses. Ontario and regions outside the contiguous U.S. are listed by name.

Explore the interactive case atlas →

Boundaries: Natural Earth · public domain

Location research & source notes

This case was added after the September 14 map-source review and has not yet been checked against those sources.

The map shows regional context for this case. No individually sourced historical place is included below.

Explore outside maps & location guides →

EXPLORE THE CASE

Positive Outcome

Laws, Advocacy & Change

Positive Outcome

0 items
About these sources

Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.

No case-specific reform has been verified for this collection yet.