Raising Ethical Children: Questions and Ideas for Discussing “Selma”

Selma is a historical drama, not a documentary, based on the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. These marches were bravely led by Hosea Williams, James Bevel, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Although the 1964 Civil Rights Act legally desegregated the South, discrimination remained rampant, making it nearly impossible for African Americans to exercise their voting rights and responsibilities.

For more than 30 years, Facing History and Ourselves has augmented our rigorous academic content with compelling films like Selma. In Facing History and Ourselves classrooms, teachers would place this historical motion picture in the larger context of the American civil rights movement. We also believe that the classroom extends into the community, and the important issues raised in the film should be discussed among adolescents and the adults in their lives.

Here are some guided questions that a parent or another adult can use to engage youth in a post- viewing discussion of Selma:

 The film is called Selma and not Dr. King. Why do you think filmmakers chose this name?  Why would people risk their lives to stand up for the right to vote?  What were the different strategies that those involved in the movement for voting rights debated?  What were the different choices that people made throughout the time portrayed in the film that allowed for forward momentum in the movement for voting rights?  What does this film add to your understanding of the civil rights movement? What would you like to know more about?  Discuss a moment of courage in the movie that resonated with you.  The March from Selma to Montgomery was a courageous demonstration. Can you think of other times in American history or today when groups of people came together to make change?  What issue of unfairness in your community, country, or world do you think still need to be addressed.  What is the most effective way to try to change these issues? What can you do among your friends, in your school, or in your community to help?

Suggested Activity:

There is a lot of public debate about whether the film gave proper credit to President Lyndon B. Johnson for his involvement in Selma and his eagerness to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965. A good family project could be to research Johnson’s role and compare your findings to what the film suggested. For a greater historical understanding of the Selma marches, explore Chapter 6: Bridge to Freedom from the Facing History and Ourselves resource guide Eyes on the Prize. You will be asked to register on Facing History's website to view this free resource. Download now.

Further Resources:

Lynda Lowery turned 15 years old during the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery. She was arrested 15 times over the years in which she participated in the civil rights movement. In this video, Lynda describes "Bloody Sunday" and the resolve that carried her through to the final march two weeks later. Watch now.

Find connection questions for educators and teaching resources in our blog post “Reconsidering Selma: Teaching the Stories Behind a Pivotal Moment in History.”

Teaching Tolerance’s Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot is a free classroom documentary that explores the Selma-to-Montgomery legacy through the activism of students and teachers. The accompanying viewer’s guide encourages students in grades 6-12 to think about voting issues today and to consider what they would march for.