Title of the Film: Selma

“Film Summary – Selma”

"Selma" precisely portrayed events in 1965. It happened as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. challenged the state’s plans to deny "American Negro" rights. Who knew that racism and sexism persisted in the South even after the Civil Rights Act? On the other hand, white officers abused blacks for no reason while not being prosecuted for their acts.

Dr. King was ordered to Selma to execute the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Despite its passage, the act was not enforced in the South. Because they were white cops, they would beat and threaten blacks for no reason. When King and his followers came to Selma, they knelt in front of the courtroom, hands behind their heads, begging for their rights to enforce. Denied their privileges, they were assaulted and detained. Dr. King then marched to Montgomery to register black voters. When King and his followers came to Selma, they knelt in the front of the courtroom, hands behind their heads, begging for their rights to enforce. Denied of their rights, they were assaulted and detained. Dr. King then proceeded to Montgomery to register black voters.

“List any examples of historical moments or references.”

A. One of the most rememberable things about the march was the "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. It is considered one of the greatest speeches in history and really got people to rally behind Martin Luther King Jr. and what he believed in.

B. A-bomb lodged by the Ku Klux Klan killed four young black ladies coming from Birmingham, Alabama's 16th Street Baptist Church.

C. Annie Lee Cooper attempts to enroll in voting in Selma, Alabama but is turned away by the white registrar.

“Discuss a lesson you learned from the film.”

Following the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in New York, several whites have taken into leadership roles at large rallies to set themselves apart from reactionaries and quiet moderates. "Selma" teaches white sympathizers to respect black leaders, listen to their advice, and follow their example. Aside from putting aside concerns King's request, Johnson followed this strategy for being an ally, brainstorming with King behind the scenes about how to best assist the demonstrators' efforts.

“Ask a question (inspired by the film) about history.”

I encourage examining how films and other literature portray politics and paying more attention to the Civil Rights Movement, especially when courts and legislators roll back some of King and his colleagues' victories. That's where California’s method falls short, apart from creating a strange criterion for fiction. Instead, it says that we should evaluate fiction for errors, and if deviations from science or history occur, we should stop talking about it.

“Identify a source where you might find an answer to your question”.

Selma is a 2014 movie by director Ava DuVernay based on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s effort to secure voting rights for black citizens in 1965

“Suggest a Call to Action for a reader (For instance, should others watch the film--why or why not?).”

Although Selma took place fifty years ago, the film is a description of the Selma voting right protest, the march from Selma to Montgomery, the passage if the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the leadership of Dr. Martin King Junior.

Most Americans today should know the importance of Selma, Alabama and how it has positively affected us. About fifty years ago Dr. King led hundreds of American on a mission to march from Selma to Montgomery to fight for voting right. The march was meant to be peaceful and representation of the outrage many felt in their fight to overcome the obstacles standing in the way of voting rights.