A more perfect party : the night Shirley Chisholm and Diahann Carroll reshaped politics

A more perfect party The night Shirley Chisholm and Diahann Carroll reshaped politics

Juanita Tolliver

Book - 2025

"By becoming the first black woman to run for President of the United States in 1972, New York Representative Shirley Chisholm did more than break the ice in American politics, she left behind a coalition model that requires voters in the United States to show up and show out for the candidates they trust. This coalition model lives on in one whimsical-but little known-1972 Hollywood fundraiser for Chisholm's Presidential Campaign hosted by Diahann Carroll. In A More Perfect Party, MSNBC political analyst and cohost of Crooked Media's What A Day podcast Juanita Tolliver argues that this model is exactly what we must employ today to support Black women's' electoral success. When actress and singer Diahann Carroll ope...ned the doors of her opulent Hollywood home to Shirley Chisholm and her guest list of Black Panther Party members, lauded musicians, political supporters and adversaries, Hollywood movers and shakers, and philanthropists, she knew they were in for a fabulous party. Chisholm worked the room, laughing, eating, and meeting with each guest to show how their respective fields were integral to her political success and the betterment of the United States. A More Perfect Party explores this unreal coming together of Diahann Carroll, Huey P. Newton, Goldie Hawn, Berry Gordy and more, and what their conversations tell us about our current political landscape. Zooming in on one integral conversation per chapter, this book highlights the gaps that today's voters must address to challenge sluggish progress. Chisholm and Huey P. Newton talk voter turnout initiative for the Black Panthers. Chisholm encourages actress Goldie Hawn to take a confident, feminist stance against racism. Media mogul David Frost and Chisholm parse through media's impact on the nation's calcified thinking that only white people and men are capable leaders. A More Perfect Party is what happens when voters, donors, and kingmakers, step up and answer the call. Tolliver brings this forgotten event out of the margins of history to show curious voters of today the power of starting with their own interests to get involved politically and the pitfalls of sexism, racism, and fascism that stand in our way. By leveraging Chisholm's coalition blueprint, Black women candidates today can reach new political heights"--

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BIOGRAPHY/Chisholm, Shirley
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Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor New Shelf BIOGRAPHY/Chisholm, Shirley (NEW SHELF) Due Mar 27, 2025
Subjects
Chisholm, Shirley, > 1924-2005.
Carroll, Diahann > Political activity.
Democratic Party (U.S.) > History > 20th century.
African American women politicians.
African Americans > Politics and government.
Political participation > Social aspects > United States.
HISTORY / United States / General.
Biographies.
Genres
Biographies
Published
New York : Legacy Lit 2025.
Language
English
Main Author
Juanita Tolliver (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
vii, 210 pages ; 22 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN
9781538770221
9781538776667
Contents unavailable.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

When a Black woman ran for president--more than half a century ago. In 2022, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Chisholm's historic campaign as the first woman and African American to run for president, Tolliver interviewed Chisholm's close friend, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee. During the interview, Lee casually mentioned that Carroll had held a fundraiser for Chisholm at the actress' Hollywood mansion--and that she had brought with her the Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton. Fascinated by this slice of "living, breathing Black history," Tolliver dove into a research project about the party that uncovered surprising details about the event and its attendees. Among them was that Lee met future fellow House Rep. Maxine Waters at the party--Waters, then an activist, was answering the door for guests. The comedian Flip Wilson co-hosted the get-together, writing a check for $5,000. It wasn't an astronomical sum--about $38,000 in today's dollars--but it was the largest donation the campaign had received, and it paid for ads that helped Chisholm win roughly 5% of the vote in California. This was especially impressive since Chisholm had been excluded from televised debates. Tolliver writes that the fundraiser fueled a sense of optimism among traditionally marginalized groups. And she draws parallels between that long-ago campaign and current-day politics. A Black woman has yet to be elected president of the United States, but that day may come, thanks in no small part to Shirley Chisholm paving the way. An ebullient and trenchant look at a trailblazing campaign for president. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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