SELMA

Released December 2014

PG-13
http://www.selmamarchon.com/

SELMA is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery
culminated in President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement.
Director Ava DuVernays SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo)
and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.

Historical Summary

African-American men had fought for and won the right to vote following the Civil War with passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution in 1870. In 1920 women of any race gained the right to vote through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. However, in
the late 1800s and early 1900s southern states passed laws, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, to make it very hard for African-Americans
and some poor whites to vote. By the 1960s many African-Americans were fighting again to be able to register to vote. Protests happened
throughout the south many led by young African-American high school and college students. By 1965, the denial of African-American
voting rights was hurting the reputation of the United States around the world.

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Elements of Nonviolent Campaigns

source: Martin Luther King, Jr. via http://www.actupny.org/

First, nonviolence is resistance to evil and oppression. It is a

human way to fight.

Second, it does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent,

but to win his/ her friendship and understanding.

Third, the nonviolent method is an attack on the forces of evil

rather than against persons doing the evil. It seeks to defeat
the evil and not the persons doing the evil and injustice.

Fourth, it is the willingness to accept suffering

without retaliation.

Fifth, a nonviolent resister avoids both external physical and

internal spiritual violence- not only refuses to shoot, but
also to hate, an opponent. The ethic of real love is at the
center of nonviolence.

Sixth, the believer in nonviolence has a deep faith in the

future and the forces in the universe are seen to be on the
side of justice.

Keep the Discussion Going

How does the movie depict the story the same or differently
than actual historical accounts?

Gandhi called nonviolent action the greatest and most active

force in the world. What do you think about nonviolence as
a strategy to make change? Is it still relevant today? In what
situations? What are current examples of nonviolent
campaigns that are succeeding?

What were the turning points in the Selma campaign?

Were the turning points strategic or due to
unexpected opportunities?

How did the media figure into the Selma campaign?

How did leaders fit it into their strategy? How does the
media cover social movements today? What role does
social media play?

Why did it make a difference for teachers and other

African-American professionals to march in Selma?
What difference did white allies make?

Did the Selma campaign succeed in the short term?

In the long term? Large portions of the Voting Rights Act
were repealed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013.
Are voting protections still needed for minority groups?
Why or why not?

Did the Selma campaign change the minds of white people in

Alabama? Can you have real change without changing
peoples views and values?

What are the most important civil rights issues

facing our community today?What was a time
that you stood up to injustice? How did it feel?
Was it successful?

How do the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner relate

to the Civil Rights Movement if at all? What role would a
nonviolent campaign play in a movement for police
accountability and community safety?

Learn More
Nonviolent Strategies and Tactics
http://www.actupny.org/documents/CDdocuments/NVResponse.html

http://www.actupny.org/documents/demomanual/Demomanual.html

U.S. Civil Rights Movement

http://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/index.php/movements-and-campaigns/movements-and-campaigns-summaries?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=17&sobi2Id=22
Current Nonviolent Conflicts Around the World
http://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/index.php/news-and-media/featured-news-stories
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Martin Luther King, Jr.

http://www.thekingcenter.org/books-bibliography
Organizing Community Conversations for Racial Equity
http://www.everyday-democracy.org/resources/racial-equity#.VJM0GSvF_ig
2013 Repeal of the Voting Rights Act
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/supreme-court-ruling.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Guides for Teachers
http://www.tolerance.org/teaching-kits
Other links
www.blacklivesmatter.com