The documentary released in 2014 marks an often gruesome and motivating depiction of the march to Selma as a civil rights movement; which waged war against racial discrimination, prohibition from property-owning, and slavery (Jaafar, 2009) . The walk to Selma presented a crucial event of the civil right movements since it enabled African-Americans to overcome the exploitation and abuse of their voting rights and numerous deaths caused by racial differences. In the film, Martin Luther King junior is heard telling the president about thousands of deaths that are racially motivated, and the level of protection that the murderers have received from higher powers hence preventing their conviction (McLaren, 2015) . According to Martin Luther King, these culprits enjoy the protection of an all-white jury selected by an all-white electorate and officials ( Boerma, 2015) . The deaths and abuse of voting rights, therefore, arise as a result of racially unfair representation. These concerns by Martin Luther King emphasize the level of inequality and exploitation of African Americans particularly in the south, signifying how the lack thereof contributed to other forms of racial discrimination. Heading the march to Selma, Martin Luther King’s significance as an African American figure is seen (McLaren, 2015) . Being the only individual to be accorded a national holiday outside presidency, many blacks have acknowledged his contribution as an ethical and cultural symbol who assisted in the shaping of the current democratic America. As a man of his stature, he successfully led incredible revolutions, therefore, becoming a heroic figure especially among the blacks ( Boerma, 2015) . Through the film, DuVernay seeks to recollect memories, facts, and events that led to the march to Selma, the impacts of the march to African-Americans, and future implications to current America- aspects that will form a significant component of this analysis.
The March to Selma
In the first 5 minutes, the documentary ‘March to Selma’ appears to stand for the knowledge that the civil right movement represented an official response to the dreams and hopes held by Martin Luther King (Jaafar, 2009) . Commencing right after the speech made by Martin Luther King and the signing of the civil rights acts by President Johnson, the documentary shows the agitated LB Johnson explaining to Martin Luther King the need for the voting rights’ implementation to wait. In particular, he highlights this regardless of the humiliation and terror that African-Americans were undergoing as a result of lack of political representation. The march to Selma depicted the president as one who had to be screamed at and dragged before providing the necessary support to the upholding of civil rights but will instead plan to suppress all civil right movements. In the public face, the president who considered black activists as moral and political degenerates would be seen discouraging violence between angry and armed white law enforcers and un-armed black demonstrators-which was ironical (Jaafar, 2009) . Due to the political and legal obstacles that black demonstrators faced, it took several attempts to march to Montgomery.
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In 1965, the bloody Sunday was born following the massive killing of black demonstrators. On the fateful Sunday, six hundred demonstrators left Selma and marched to Montgomery through a bridge in which they found police blockades. Because they refused to stop their march, the police attacked and maimed over forty-eight demonstrators. A day later, Martin Luther King decided to hold another demonstration but received similar treatment from white police. A third protected demonstration became successful and led to the passing into law of the voting rights Act. As Martin Luther King states in the movie, “the President could stop this (violence) with a stroke of his pen; he chooses not to” ( Boerma, 2015).
Despite popular belief that the abandonment of human slavery and oppression of African American rights was as a result of constitutional amendments, the documentary shows that black activists significantly contributed to the attainment of various freedoms including the right to vote and own property. Non-Violent campaigns had long been held to support voter registration and fair legal and political representation in Alabama. Most protests were organized by African-American students who invited mainstream activists such as Jimmy Jackson and Martin Luther and groups like the Southern Christian leadership conference and the student nonviolent coordinating committee (McLaren, 2015) . The film also portrays routine violence and harassment which demonstrators were subjected to including police brutality using whips and tear gas, and surveillance by the federal bureau of investigations (Jaafar, 2009) .
The documentary also denies the involvement of white saviors to grant civil rights. Instead, the film attributes this success to Martin Luther who organized demonstrators to protest despite detentions and sentencing threats. The film highlights the tactics and methodologies that were used during the march, and present to the world senior activists including Malcolm X, John Lewis, Ralph Abernathy, and Amelia Boynton among others, who either died or got maimed for fighting for black freedoms. Considering the extensive cast, it is surprising that activists like Stokely Carmichael and Ella Baker were not included in spite of their immense contributions to the creation of black activists groups such as the SNCC and Black Power Movement. The documentary downplays such politics and the connection between economic and civil freedom. However, it anticipates the increase in anti-war movements (McLaren, 2015) .
While America seems more interested in movies that highlight its fight for the maintenance of human rights and discouragement of any form of discrimination, it does not provide adequate support for movies that demonstrate how minority groups liberate themselves from its grip. America has taken several decades to create and present a film about the contributions of Martin Luther King to African Americans liberation. The documentary not only humanizes Martin Luther and other civil rights heroes, but it also includes talented black actors including Carmen Ejogo, David Oyelowo, and Oprah Winfrey among others (Jaafar, 2009). As the main character, David Oyelowo who played the role of Martin Luther did not receive Oscar nominations despite the film receiving a nomination for best song and best picture.
By failing to nominate the documentary’s director for her exemplary performance in recollecting past fights for freedom, the Oscar academy indicates the current war for equality considering that no black woman has ever been nominated under the category of best director. Oscar’s refusal to appoint men and women of color also shows how in-depth racism is rooted in the contemporary society. However, the documentary succeeds in showing the significance of black lives to the political and economic status of contemporary united states ( Boerma, 2015) .
Conclusion
The march to Selma demonstrated an age-long war against racial discrimination. The Selma demonstration was founded in the deep-rooted desire by African-American slaves to free themselves from racial oppression, and abandon slavery following the granting of civil rights to American slaves after the 15th and 14th US constitution amendment. However, such civil rights movement contributed to the protection of the granted civil rights over the following decades. Through such demonstrations, the pattern of discriminating African-Americans in public spaces and facilities were discouraged and even abolished especially in the south promoting the formulation of equal rights laws. Even though the passing of civil rights legislation between 1964 and 1965 was successful for the movements, African American activists perceived the liberation or freedom as their struggles not only to enjoy civil rights protection but also to take part in cultural, political, and economic advantages and consequences of the newfound freedom from oppression.
References
Boerma, L. (2015). "Selma" critics question accuracy of LBJ's role in civil rights. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/selma-critics-question-accuracy-of-lbjs-role-in-civil-rights/
Jaafar, A. (2009). Lee Daniels on march to 'Selma? Retrieved June 1, 2018, from https://variety.com/2009/biz/markets-festivals/lee-daniels-on-march-to-selma-1118011498/
McLaren, J. (2015). From Selma the march to Selma to movie, the struggle continues. Retrieved from http://www.socialist.ca/node/2596
