What Students Are Saying
Playwright/Performer Ingrid Griffith with college students after her solo performance of Shirley Chisholm: Unbossed & Unbowed at New Federal Theatre’s Ancestral Voices Solo Festival at the Women’s Project (WP) Theater in NYC.
"I thought the play was amazing. The actress that played all the roles was phenomenal and I think she did a great job at telling the story of Shirley Chisholm. There was only so much I learned about her in my elementary school years but this play really encapsulated the woman Ms. Chisholm was and the impact she has made through her political career. Two parts of the play really stuck out to me. The first one being about how the Constitution emphasizes the United States being a democracy, and she said that “It only exists on paper” and that couldn’t be any more true. This country likes to call itself a democracy, that it’s free and just for all those who live here or come to live here, but with the history of this country and the current administration, we can see that it’s anything but. The second thing that stuck out to me was during the debate part, the white man had told Shirley that Black people will have the chance to move up in society, but they need a white person to help them. That had to have been the most absurd thing I have ever heard in my life. Me being African-American, everything that my ancestors before me have done did not require the use of white people. We persevered through so much and all they had was each other because no one wanted to see us be great. So to think that white people feel that we need their help to become great is a joke. Thank you for making me aware of this play and I really did enjoy it."
Danielle, John Jay College
"Seeing one person play multiple perspectives was empowering. I felt myself getting emotional in certain parts, especially when she lost her father. I think as a woman I also felt emotion in watching her trials and tribulations. It was an eye-opening experience that deepened my understanding of black history and the ongoing struggles women face in politics and representation. Although I learned about Shirley Chisholm and her amazing contribution to politics, there was a strong narrative that brought these challenges to life. It was an impactful moment watching her address the sexism she encountered. Her intelligence and capability were constantly dismissed because she was a black woman. Walking out of the theater, I felt inspired by her story and courage. It was a reminder that as a woman, especially as one who is currently studying law, that I am more than capable of inserting myself in a very male-dominated field. It made me think of the role I want to contribute in my future."
Jade, John Jay College
"When watching the one woman play 'Shirley Chisholm: Unbossed and Unbowed', I was very fascinated with how one actress can play the role of many characters and act out different roles in one play. One of the first things I noticed about this actress was that she was able to perform different accents and different ways of speaking to portray her characters differently. In one of her scenes she used a heavy Caribbean accent to portray Shirley’s mother and Shirley’s father. Her Caribbean accent was strong and very broad to the point where I believed she was actually a Caribbean-born woman at one point. I also love how she copied Shirley’s lisp to portray Shirley Chisholm's speech and give the play more authenticity."
Leon, John Jay College
"What really hit me was how she talked about coming to America and feeling like she didn’t fit in. I felt so connected to her story because it reminded me of my own experience when I arrived in the U.S. I wanted to go back home because I didn’t feel like I belonged here. At the end of the play, Shirley Chisholm said, ‘Service is the rent we pay for the privilege ofliving on this earth,’ which means we have a responsibility to help others and give back to our communities. She believes that living a good life is about more than just thinking of ourselves. It's about serving and supporting each other. Shirley Chisholm's performance made me feel like she was sharing my story, and it made me realize I’m not alone in my struggles. It was inspiring to see someone who faced similar challenges and still made an impact. That play really stuck with me!
Michelle, John Jay College
"The experience of witnessing Ingrid Griffith put on the one woman show of Shirley Chisholm's life story was extremely moving. From the story itself to the acting, it truly did exceed my expectations. It was my first time witnessing a one-woman show which made me very curious to see the different dynamics with how Griffith would portray each character. Aside from being able to quickly change her voice, the nuances of her body language were the best little details to distinguish the shift from character to character. Slight changes she made in sitting upright to then slightly more forward made it easy to see the change from one role to the next. She also was extremely confident in every character that she played, making the experience more believable and amusing. The story itself was fascinating to hear and a real eye opener to how American history is biased when taught in schools. The experience was knowledgeable about theater etiquette as well as American history. It opened my eyes to what other great productions are put on right under our noses."
Linsey, John Jay College
"Shirley Chisholm was a person that was a huge part in the civil rights movement but oftentimes isn't mentioned along the likes of Malcom X or Martin Luther King, Jr. or even Medgar Evers, but her impact was very much similar–even greater, in my opinion. She preserved through hardship and always aimed extremely high. Shirley Chisholm did not conform to the social norm; she was very defiant and always was looking to make an impact not just for her but for others in marginalized communities. Overall this is a play that I enjoyed because it shed light to the hidden history that haven't been told to us in American society. This is a play that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life and I would love to see more plays that are as insightful as this one."
Steven, John Jay College
"I just left the show and WOW! Such a great performance done by Ingrid. So moving and just phenomenal. I had never seen a one-woman show and with this being my first experience I was impressed. So much knowledge and info packed in just an hour and 20 minutes which is incredible, especially how we saw her go from a child to being the first Black female candidate to be the President of the United States, but also saw all the struggles she went through during this time and yet never gave up. Inspiring! Thank you again for the opportunity and for informing us about this play."
Neshly, John Jay College
"Seeing that this is my first ever play I've gone to, I am amazed. When watching this play, not only did I like the setting of the stage, which was the two chairs to show transition of character to character, but also how much the audience would engage and understand every moment and lesson of the play. In addition, I love the way the actress was able to switch from character to character. She didn't pause and think about switching. She did it so smoothly that I didn't even notice. For example, the phone call between Shirley and her mother, the character was so different in that very single person. Meaning the actress showed great emotion from being sickly from surgery to being the mother whose emotions heighten. I like how the actor's facial expressions were shown–her hand gestures and also body movements. She did really well and I am impressed. Overall, this play was great and inspired me to go see more plays in the future."
Anjalie, John Jay College