In Selma, director Ava DuVernay portrays Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s (David Oyelowo) struggle to get the Voting Rights Act passed.
Although DuVernay touches on King’s human flaws – his infidelity, his pride – she focuses on King’s contribution to civil rights in America.
An early scene where children die in a church bombing reminds S.Q. Reviewers of recent hate crimes in places like Charleston, South Carolina.
“It’s sad that it’s happening today,” Jonathan Chiu says after we meet outside the San Quentin Newsroom. “I compare Obama to Johnson. When people look back on Obama’s presidency, what are they going to say about what Obama did while churches were burning and Black children were being executed in the streets?”
Juan Meza says, “There’s something going on that hasn’t stopped. Churches still burn; something in our neighborhoods is still foul. If a Chicano were in office he would send money to schools in the hood, like: We’re changing this.’”
Meza looks to the reviewers seated in a circle around him before he continues. “Do you feel like Obama holds back, so he doesn’t appear biased?”
“He said that he’s not a Black president, he’s the American President,” says Rahsaan Thomas.
“He’s supposed to be a Black President!” Meza says. “Why isn’t he focused on the problems that plague the Black community?”
Chiu says, “Hillary is going to get in office and work for women’s interests. You can believe that.”
“And you’d get lynched if you criticized her for it,” Emile DeWeaver says. “So what does it say about American progress when Obama must tip-toe around Black issues for fear of stirring up a racial crap-storm, but if Hillary champions women’s interests, she’ll be seen as just that: a champion?”
“It’s bullcrap,” says Thomas, “but it’s where society is at. It’s good that society has become more accepting of women with power, but it seems like we have a way to go to overcome the racial hatreds of the past. Obama is just doing the best he can in the face of history.” Thomas turns to DeWeaver and says, “It’s no different than the practicality you admired in King.”
Earlier, DeWeaver talked about how King didn’t use non-violence just because King was a morally good person.
“It wasn’t just a moral stance,” DeWeaver said. “It was practical because they couldn’t win a gun war with the U.S. But it was a war. And King was very intelligent with the way he conducted it.”
“I have a new-found respect for King’s type of non-violence because it was systematic,” said Meza. “It wasn’t let’s just go sit down, it was let’s provoke.”
“King knew his case for injustice was better illustrated by people seeing cops beating innocents on TV instead of viewing a Black rebellion,” said DeWeaver. “That is part of what brought about the change because the narrative of that era dehumanized minorities, and that dehumanization is what allows human beings to mistreat others. But those scenes on TV showed humans screaming in the street.”
“Yeah, King was responsible,” Thomas said. “I feel like we have to think that way, as prisoners. A lot of stereotypes keep the public scared of us. We’ve gotta show them we’re human.”
We rate Selma 4 out of 5 dinner cookies.
Contributors: Rahsaan Thomas, Emile DeWeaver, Juan Meza, John Chiu