The Surprising Lessons Of “Selma” o The award-winning motion picture “Selma” reveals unexpected lessons abouta critical time in American history. (NAPSA)—While you may be familiar with the major turning points of the Americancivil rights movementof the 1960s, the award- winning feature film “Selma,” which is now available on Blu-ray and DVD, shinesa light on someof the lesser-known realities of that critical time in Americanhistory. Focusing on the period when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in order to secure voting rights for all Americans, “Selma” reveals some sur- prising truths that even its cast members weren’t awareof. “One of the things I was most impressed by was how keen Dr. King was to surround himself with men and women who were leaders in their own right,” said actor David Oyelowo, who portrays Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “It was a great reminder that we have to come together to achieve our goals and that no one winsa battle alone.” Another of the film’s powerful revelations is that even leaders as driven and charismatic as Dr. King can have momentsof doubt. In this case, as the Selma to Montgomery march is about to begin—a key scene in the movie— Dr. King fears it will end in violence and talks to SCLC leader Andrew Young about cancelingit. Young, however, reassures Dr. King of the value of the sacrifice they are about to make and the need to persevere. The movie also shows how the drive to secure voting rights for African Americans was a long and complex struggle. A combination of nonviolent protests, economic boycotts, political negotiation and ever-increasing media coverage finally coalesced to ensure the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. No single event or speech or person changed history. The required work took time, sacrifice and theeffort of many people. And that’s a lesson we can still learn from today. To learn more, visit www.Selma Movie.com.
