‘Selma’: Connecting America’s Past to Our Present
A crowd of unarmed black demonstrators file onto the Edmund Pettus Bridge in south-central Alabama. The 500-some marchers have been solemnly making their way eastbound on Route 80. As they reach the top of the bridge, the peaceable crowd spots armed police forces awaiting them on the opposite end. Within mere moments, chaos erupts—billy clubs collide with ribcages, mounted troopers rush upon fleeing civilians, all while tear gas shields possible onlookers from savage beatings across the pavement.
The issue at the surface of the violence is southern voting rights—but at its heart, unbridled racism in the American homeland.
The events of that “Bloody Sunday,” March 7, 1965, would help shake a nation’s conscience awake during the extraordinary struggle known as the civil rights movement. If the 60s weren’t turbulent enough already—think Sputnik, Nam, Malcolm X, and JFK’s assassination for starters—the tables of American society were about to be flipped for good by the likes of a resolute reverend from Atlanta, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The 2014 film Selma brings to life three critical months in Dr. King’s decisive campaign to secure equal voting rights for African American citizens in Selma, Alabama, and the protesters’ 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery. King’s legendary leadership—and that of his zealous companions James Bevel, Hosea Williams, John Lewis, Diane Nash, and others—can hardly be overstated. His dynamic activism, often marked by outrageously bold tactics, merged beautifully with his humbling faith in a loving God.
Because of King and company, legislation would change. Communities would change. The heartbeat of America would change.
Ultimately, history books would include a message of hope that coming generations would need to hear. Yes, even the America of the 2020s.
If you want to dive deeper into King’s journey—actually, America’s journey—I have three resources to recommend.
Read The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1998), edited by Clayborne Carson.
Watch the movie Selma (2014). Starring David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, and Tim Roth. Directed by Ava DuVernay. A highly accurate portrayal of history. Also, lively music by Pharrell Williams!
Keep your eyes out for a book coming out later this year (likely the fall). I had the esteemed privilege of investigating the America of the 1960s alongside a veritable expert on the era, Dr. Jim Willis. Our joint project takes a look at films portraying the 1960s through the years, from the late 60s to the mid-2010s, and weighs in on Hollywood’s take on history. Selma is one of 10 films that our book explores in depth. More details to come.
Until then… goodnight, and good luck.