Equality And Justice In Selma

Superior Essays
Equality and Justice - false promises a nation was created to protect. The historical drama, Selma (2014), directed by Ava DuVernay, depicts some of the struggles African-Americans faced in the pursuit of equality and justice during the mid 1950’s to 1960’s, and the role Martin Luther King Jr. played in his attempt to overcome such inequalities. During this time period, racial segregation was prominent, especially in the southern states. The government justified such segregation based on the 14th Amendment’s wording of “separate but equal”. However, many African-Americans were dissatisfied and demanded true equality. It was not until the mid 1960’s, after Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, that racial tension began to …show more content…
Although Martin Luther King Jr.’s demeanor appears to be very calm and collected on the surface, the movie illuminates that he is fearful of the consequences his actions will have on his followers, family, and himself. This is depicted in the scenes during and following his march to the Selma County Courthouse. Martin Luther King Jr.’s principle of peaceful protest is put to the test after the county sheriff marches into the crowd and begins to assault the protesters. During this scene, the camera cuts back and forth six times between the altercations and King’s reaction. The camera focuses on two specific incidents - when the sheriff hits an old man and when a woman hits the sheriff back. As each shot progresses, the camera moves closer to King so that he takes up more of the screen, and the angle of the shot lowers from the initial eye level. The effect of this camera movement technique makes King look bigger, and therefore, more important even though he is not the main focus of this scene. The scene also attempts to highlight the internal conflict he faces between restraint and fighting back, and his eventual decision is to not violate his principle of peaceful protest despite the circumstances. I say that he makes the correct decision because by choosing to not interfere, he does not contradict his own principle. Also, if …show more content…
King faces such conflict on his second march along the Edmund Pettus Bridge. In displaying this internal conflict, the film not only makes King’s character more compelling to the viewers, but it portrays a side of him that other films and works occasionally neglect. After the county troopers parted, allowing the marchers access to the road ahead, King kneels down. In this scene, King displays an expression of disbelief and mixed emotions due to the shocking turn of events. King’s emotional display contrasts with the stoic person he is usually seen as. This representation is more realistic as it shows the range of emotions and difficulties King faces as a prominent leader in the movement. Despite this extraordinary accomplishment, King chooses not to continue the march as originally planned, but instead, turns around and marches back across the bridge. The film shows what conflicts may have influenced his decision in certain choices he makes, like him retreating back across the bridge. Selma did not seek to fully glorify his abilities and accomplishments, but rather, to portray him as a multidimensional leader capable of harboring certain emotions that may conflict with his cause, such as in the scene during the courthouse protest

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