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A Dinner Table Discussion: 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 , , and Dr. Martin Luther Jr. Although the South was legally desegregated by the , 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 been augmenting 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 . 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:

1. Which scene in the film stood out to you the most and why? 2. The film is called “Selma” and not Dr. King. Why do you think this name was chosen? 3. What does this film add to your understanding of the Civil Rights Movement? 4. What would you like to know more about? 5. How the world is better today because of what Dr. King and others fought for? 6. What are some ways in which we need to improve to become a more tolerant and inclusive nation? 7. What can you do among your friends and in your school to make sure that you and others are living up to what Dr. King was fighting for?

Note: 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 this chapter from Facing History and Ourselves resource guide . You will be asked to register on Facing History's website to view this FREE resource.

Teachers, find more resources to bring into your classroom at our Facing Today blog. To learn more, visit facinghistory.org/memphis.