The

Challenge !

Read, Browse, Listen, Watch, Speak, Discuss , and

Write !

Places and Forms of Power

Fighting for the Right to Vote.

A) Understanding the context : the situation in 1964

In 1964, the Civil Rights Act ended racial segregation in schools, offices and other
public spaces. It also officially outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion,
sex, or national origin. This was a great victory for the African-American population
of the USA and a great reward for Martin Luther King Jr.s activist movement, the
SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference). But the fight for equal rights was
not over. Even though the Constitution authorized Black citizens to vote many of
them were denied that right, especially in the notoriously racist Southern states of
the country (Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia...).
Watch this extract from the film and explain which obstacles African American citizens met

when they tried to register to vote in the Southern states.

Annie Lee Jackson at the courthouse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8giaBkb82w

Obstacles met by black citizens when they tried to register to vote:

* In the courthouse scene:
- literacy tests
- intimidation from white magistrates

* in other scenes of the movie (watch especially 00:53:00-00:55:00):

- poll tax (black people were poor and thus could not afford it)
- sponsoring (you needed another black person to vouch for you)
- an all-white justice system that prejudiced against black people and protecting the KKK
B) The 1965 Voting Rights Act

Here is an extract from the 1965 Voting Rights Act :

AN ACT to enforce the fifteenth amendment to the

Constitution of the United States, and for other
purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That this Act shall be known
as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
SEC. 2. No voting qualification or prerequisite to
voting, or standard, practice, or procedure shall be
imposed or applied by any State or political
subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any
citizen of the United States to vote on account of
race or color.

1. What do you think was the impact of this new law?

2. From what youve seen at the end of the film, how did the new law change the face of
Southern politics? What happened once black people could easily vote?
3. Do you think Black citizens were the only community affected by these new measures? Who
else do you think got more rights than before?
4. Do you think this enforcement of equal rights put an end to racism?
The enactment of the law immediately decreased racial inequality in voting. Literacy tests and
all other discriminatory measures were ruled out. Nearly 250,000 African Americans registered
to vote in 1965.

Once African Americans were allowed to vote not only did they not re-elect those who had
denied them their rights (ex: Selma Sheriff Jim Clark was never sheriff again) but they also
massively voted for candidates of their own color so as to ensure that their voice would be
heard and represented in federal and national decision-making. Between 1965 and 1985,
African Americans elected as state legislators in the 11 former Confederate states increased
from 3 to 176.
As voters they could also be members of jury and thus have KKK members sentenced to jail,
whereas all-white juries used to acquit white defendants accused of race related crimes
(lynchings, beatings, verbal and sexual abuse...).
All other ethnic minorities benefited from this new law as they met with the same obstacles
(due to racism mostly): Asians, Latinos and other legal citizens also seized this new opportunity
to be heard.
The legislation of equal rights did not put an end to racism as you cant force peoples opinions
but it certainly contributed to asserting the idea that African Americans, as well as other minorities, should be treated as equals.

Different perspectives

Places and Forms of Power

A) Granting black people the right to vote

The movie Selma shows how divided the country was regarding the right to vote
for colored people in the 1960s. From what youve seen in the film, explain each
partys position on the right for Black citizens to vote

Martin Luther King Jr. and the SCLC

Desegregation was a victory but African Americans were still being physically
and verbally abused in the South. Allowing them to vote freely would not only
enforce their constitutional rights but also give them a chance to defend their
interests and be taken seriously

Governor of Alabama George

Wallace(photograph) and Selmas
Sheriff Jim Clark

President of the USA Lyndon B.

Johnson

We have a certain way things are done. Its the way it is, its the way people want it
to stay. 01:41:00
Most Southerners could simply not consider black people as their equals, whatever
the Constitution and its various Amendments said. It was racism pure and simple.

This voting thing is just gonna have to wait. 00:11:48

Only 6 months after granting African Americans equal rights and thus putting an
end to segregation in the South (1964 Equal Rights Act) President Johnson
wanted to focus on winning the Vietnam war. He was afraid his electorate might
believe that he only cared about Black citizens if he granted them too much too
soon. His other concern was not to push the Southern Congressmen too far.

B) Following Martin Luther King Jr.

Compare the French (left) and the American (right) movie poster of Selma.

1. What is surprising with the American movie poster ? Why? What is the effect created by this
unusual perspective?
2. Many scenes in the movie also choose to show King from behind. Can you imagine why?
3. As a spectator, where does the camera place us? How does it influence our judgment?

It is very unusual to show the main character of a film from behind, especially if the hero is a
historic figure such as MLK or if the main actor is famous. This is a bold choice. It is the
directors choice to put us viewers right behind King in many scenes of the movie. This
perspective puts us into the shoes of Kings followers, equal rights protesters facing white
hostility. This creates a feeling of immersion into the films moral battle and influences our
judgment as we are compelled to side with the SCLC. It also shows us without any distance
how terrifying it must have been to bravely walk forward armed policemen with no other
weapon than conviction, faith and non-violence.
Martin Luther King Jr, an American hero

Myths and Heroes

Read the following definitions and say which ones best apply to Martin

Luther King Jr.

Quote scenes from the film to justify your answers. Can you think of other heroes matching these
definition?
The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. Ralph Waldo Emerson
You must be the change you want to see in the world. Mahatma Gandhi
A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. Joseph Campbell
A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
Christopher Reeves
At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable. Christopher Reeves
Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion. Calvin Coolidge
Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough. You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it. J.M.
Barrie

 Martin Luther King Jrs legacy. (heritage)

Myths and Heroes

A) Martin Luther King Jr. Day : a webquest

As explained at the end of the movie, Martin Luther Kings wife Coretta successfully lobbied for
a national holiday in memory of her husband.
Log onto this website to find out more about Martin Luther King Jr. Day in America:
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/martin-luther-king-day

Browse the website and find the answers to the following

questions :
1. When is Martin Luther King Day celebrated each year?

The third Monday of January. MLK was born on January

15 so MLK Day is around that date.

2. When was it this year?

When will it be in 2019?

In 2015 it was January 19th. In 2019 the date will be

January 21st.

3. When was first Martin Luther King Day celebrated?

15th January 1990.

4. Are schools and shops closed on this day?

Non-essential Government departments are closed, as are

many corporations. Some schools and colleges close but
others stay open and teach their students about the life and
work of Martin Luther King. Small companies, such as
grocery stores and restaurants tend to be open, although a
growing number are choosing to close on this day.

5. What is the purpose of this holiday?

It is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all

Americans, regardless of their background.

6. What are Americans encouraged to do on Martin Luther

King Day?

B) I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH

In recent years, federal legislation has encouraged

Americans to give some of their time on this day as
volunteers in citizen action groups.

Myths and Heroes

Martin Luther King Jr. still inspires many people all over the world today. Not only was
he a dreamer, a believer and a preacher, but he also was a great speech writer and
public speaker. Watch the famous speech delivered by Martin
Luther King Jr. as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom arrived at the
capitol on August 28, 1963.
Voici lun des nombreux liens permettant de visionner la vido en ligne gratuitement :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs

Vous trouverez le discours en fichier audio ainsi que sa transcription ici (trs utile) :
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

1. Who marched to Washington DC along with Martin Luther King Jr.? How many people do you
think were present? Were there only black people?
2. What was the purpose of this march? What did these protesters demand?
The march was organized by a group of civil rights, labor, and religious organizations, under
the theme jobs and freedom. Estimates of the number of participants varied from 200,000 to

300,000; it is widely accepted that approximately 250,000 people participated in the march.
Observers estimated that 7580% of the marchers were black.
3. Where did Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his speech? Why is this particular place symbolic?
Under the statue of Lincoln, the very president who abolished slavery in 1864, one century
earlier. It is symbolic because according to the Civil Rights Movement few things have changed
for the negro ever since, and they demand that this injustice be repaired.
4. How does the crowd react to Martin Luther Kings speech? What does this interaction remind
you of? What do you think makes Martin Luther King such a powerful public speaker?
King was a reverend, used to preach sermons every Sunday in church. His speech shows that
he perfectly mastered biblical references and metaphors. His speech sounds like the gospel as
it is preached in African American churches: the priest speaks louder and louder, encouraging
the crowd to react and interact (amen). The assembly is galvanized by Kings powerful voice
and careful rhythm (note the ternary repetitions) as much as by his well-chosen, convincing
words. He resorts to concepts such as liberty, equality and justice because they are deeply
rooted in the American Dream, just like his own dream of seeing black citizens being
considered just like any other Americans.
5. Read these excerpts from the text. What do you think they refer to?
Quotes from the speech
a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white
men, would be guaranteed
the unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.

References

The Constitution of the USA

We can never be satisfied as long as our children are (...)

robbed of their
dignity by signs stating: For Whites Only.

Racial segregation in the South

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia,
the sons of former
slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to
sit down together at
the table of brotherhood.

Slavery

the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of

injustice, sweltering
with the heat of oppression

Racism and the KKK in Southern states of the USA

down in Alabama, with its vicious racists

My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I
sing.Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrims
pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh
shall see it together.

Slave songs (Free at last and Let freedom Ring)

The Bible

C) Write your own I have a dream speech .

Imagine that you are living in Selma in 1960. You are a supporter of the civil rights movement.

Write a speech against racial segregation and promoting the right to vote for colored people.
(300 Words)