The Chisholm Trail: Spelman College Screens Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed 

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Spelman College hosted a screening of Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed, a documentary chronicling Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 campaign as the first Black woman to run for president of the United States. The screening took place on campus in the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Ed.D. Auditorium.This screening aligns with the 2024 presidential election currently featuring Kamala Harris, the first female and African American Vice President, who is the current Democratic presidential nominee.Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice“Looking for a road to freedom, take the Chisholm trail.” These lyrics were sung by Jesse Jackson’s Operation PUSH Choir during Shirley Chisholm’s history-making run for President of the United States. The phrase “Chisholm Trail” is a clever play on words, connecting Shirley Chisholm’s name with the historic cattle-driving route used in the post-Civil War era. Just as that trail symbolized progress and opportunity, Chisholm’s presidential run carved a new path in the post-Civil Rights era, inspiring generations to pursue political freedom and representation, a message particularly relevant as the 2024 election approaches.The documentary, opened with a rap ad from the “Rock the Vote” campaign, aimed at encouraging youth involvement in politics. From there, it moved to Chisholm’s 1972 announcement of...