Selma - Did You Notice?

Selma changes everything regarding civil rights history.  I wonder how many people caught the subtle changes. In the interest of spoilers, I will warn readers ahead of time that I am going to provide an overview with the details how the movie is significant.

This movie demonstrates an important concept to historical accountings in our country. We wait until an entire generation has passed before we offer an accurate accounting of history. And, Hollywood plays a role in shaping our perceptions.

To understand what I mean, go back in time to the 1980s. Watch Ghosts of Mississippi or Mississippi Burning prior to watching Selma. Great movies on their own, however they portray the Southern culture as evil and the Federal Government as the saviors sent in to right the wrongs of a racist society. You leave the theater thinking, "Thank goodness the FBI and our Federal Judicial system stepping in to save the day!"

While there are partial truths to the stories, many key parts of our history are left untold. To suggest that Federal Government played a role in suppressing the Civil Rights leaders through harassment and even possible assassination was never a part of the story. Most likely, it would seem too conspiratorial to suggest serious allegations that our government was part of a more complex plot regarding civil rights history.

Selma immediately tries to correct history. The story is complex. Interwoven are themes of harassment and possible assassinations at the highest levels including LBJ. The movie suggests that all of the assassinations of the 1960s were not a coincidence. In fact, they were by design. Martin Luther King starts off the movie understanding that the risks were very real that he would die. His family also knew those risks.

While this may not be news to the African-American communities that promoted social justice, much of the United States was cleansed from any consideration that our government was possibly behind any of the civil discourse created by assassinations during these turbulent times. If you watch the movie and pay attention, it is not impossible to leave feeling that your historical education was biased and fraudulent. This is why Selma matters. It is so rare to have a movie challenge such popular misconceptions.

Ironcially, Selma was released against American Sniper which is a totally different movie. Americans embraced a movie that while complex, will not encourage anyone to question our government's intentions. It speaks volumes that we embrace what is safe and familiar versus a movie that asks us to question the historical realities we were taught in school.