Selma is a historical drama film released in 2014 that chronicles the civil rights movement and the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965. The film is directed by Ava DuVernay and stars David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., who led the marches and the civil rights movement.
The film begins with a scene of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, which killed four African-American girls. This event serves as a backdrop for the film, which focuses on the events leading up to the Selma to Montgomery marches.
The film follows the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) as they work to secure voting rights for African Americans in the South. At the time, African Americans in the South were routinely denied the right to vote, and the SCLC sought to change this through non-violent protests and civil disobedience.
The film also touches on the relationship between Martin Luther King Jr. and President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was initially hesitant to support the civil rights movement. Despite their differences, the two men eventually work together to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting.
The Selma to Montgomery marches were a series of three protest marches that took place in Alabama in 1965. The first march, on March 7, ended in violence when Alabama state troopers attacked the peaceful marchers with billy clubs and tear gas. This event, known as "Bloody Sunday," was captured on film and broadcast on television, causing outrage across the country.
The second march, on March 9, was stopped by a court injunction, but the third march, on March 21, was successful. The marchers, led by Martin Luther King Jr., walked from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery, where they were met by a large crowd of supporters.
The Selma to Montgomery marches were a turning point in the civil rights movement, and the film ends with a scene of Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his "How Long, Not Long" speech on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol.
Overall, Selma is a powerful and poignant film that tells an important chapter in the history of the civil rights movement. It is a testament to the strength and determination of the African-American community and their fight for equal rights and justice.
