Selma makes me Sick

Selma–Directed by Ava Duvernay, a relatively new director, made quite an impact this season with her biopic on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The historical accuracy, acting, and explosiveness of the film made it a fantastic film to watch. I was hesitant at first to watch, I am first to admit that films backed by Oprah usually aren’t my cup of tea. I don’t know why, but I have to be in the mood to watch racial discrimination and hate filled movies. Maybe it’s my white guilt, or maybe it’s a genre that’s just not for me. But at the end of the film I had a feeling inside me that was similar to Full Metal Jacket–Empty and Sick.

The film starts out after MLK’s famous ‘I Have A Dream Speech,’ which I quite enjoyed because every person in America knows the speech but every January they seem to tune it out like a Katy Perry single. The film focused on one of his main goals: To give Black Americans the right to vote without racial barriers. The film does a great job of citing key examples: They would need a Voucher from someone else in order to register to vote and If they would try to register, their names and address would be printed in the paper to invoke physical altercation, as well as many other barriers.

The historical accuracy was what made me excited about the film. I understand it’s Hollywood and certain events are tailored so that it is more exciting (Let’s not forget the Championship game from Remember the Titans). When MLK first came to Selma he was assaulted, we all know the FBI’s intricate obsession with Dr. King in order to out his affairs, his mugshot, meeting with Malcolm X, the verbatim hate-messages left on his answering machine, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and MLK’s secret smoking habit. It is speculated that the reason why MLK was on his balcony where he got assassinated was because he was having a smoke (smoking kills!). Much like President Obama, he hid it from the public.

Along with the accuracy, the acting was simply phenomenal. David Oyelowo plays Doctor King and you immediately know that he has the ‘voice’ of MLK. Common’s acting demands attention, much like his famed rapping abilities. Oprah’s small role is quick but very important to the advancement of the story. Wendell Pierce (Bunk, from HBO’s The Wire), Nigel Thatch, and Cuba Gooding Jr all have great performances. The white actors all convey a racist ‘Southern Slime’ Performances by Tom Wilkinson, Giovanni Ribisi, Dylan Baker, Tim Roth, and Stephen Root all make you feel uncomfortable by their presence on screen.

The only problem I had with the film is the portrayal of LBJ played by Tom Wilkinson. In the film, he is portrayed as anti-civil rights and opposes MLK at every turn, even spearheading the FBI investigation. LBJ’s portrayal has sparked controversy with historians on both side of the spectrum. Did he really call them “Niggers” like he so casually did in the film? Did he go to J. Edgar Hoover and demand MLK to be investigated? Was he secretly racist? Many historians disagree with such claims because there is factual evidence stating that he was creating a Civil Rights Bill before the Selma march, which the film carefully omits. LBJ wanted voting rights for all, which is why we passed the Civil Rights Act in the first place. The portrayal gave unfair blame to LBJ, which bothered me because it made MLK up against the world. Like I said, it is Hollywood and a good story needs as many antagonists as they can get. But this is something important to consider while watching the film.

The 50 mile Selma to Montgomery march was a peaceful protest to implement change for basic human voting rights. “We’re not asking, we are commanding. Give us the vote!”

Selma was an explosive and powerful movie that is perfect for making you think about your fellow man. Every human being deserves the same rights, liberties and respect. It made me sick to think how discrimination, racism, hate, apathy and injustice is still prevailing in our country. Take Ferguson for example. Why would the best course of action be looting and violence to your own town. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

MLK’s march to Montgomery proved a basic elementary philosophy: As much as we hate bullies, as much as we want change, we do not fight back with violence. Violence only feeds the fire. We must fight back with peace, protest, and persistence. The fact that our country still doesn’t understand that makes me sick.

8/10