Selma is a movie depicting the events that happened in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. It follows Martin Luther King, Jr., through three months where he fought for the right to march in Selma as part of the Civil Rights movement. Not only does the movie show Martin Luther King’s obvious struggles, such as race, politics, and religious views, but it also shows how his work complicated relationships with his wife and children.
Though there seems to be some sort of question on its historical accuracy, it was a good story portrayed beautifully. However, was that was really happened? One difference was President Lyndon B. Johnson’s role in these events. The movie showed him more as an obstructionist, but it seems that it wasn’t really like that. Joseph A Califano, Jr., from the Washington Post wrote, “Contrary to the portrait painted by Selma, Lyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King, Jr., were partners in this effort. Johnson was enthusiastic about voting rights and the President urged King to find a place like Selma and lead a major demonstration.” Mark Udegrove, director of the Lyndon B Johnson Library, also commented on this controversial topic, “Why does the film’s mis-characterization matter? Because at a time when racial tension is once again high, from Ferguson to Brooklyn, it does no good to bastardize one of the most hallowed chapters in the Civil Rights Movement by suggesting that the President himself stood in the way of progress.”
Despite the question of accuracy, I still enjoyed seeing Selma in theaters. At a time where race controversy is becoming more talked about instead of hidden, it seemed very relevant to the state of our country. And although it didn’t happen in the theater I was at, I’ve heard of audiences breaking out in applause after seeing this movie.