Framing the movie: We hear it, we see it, we act

Transcription

1 Framing the movie: We hear it, we see it, we act The movie is about a conflict with authority. The political/authority situation: The spirit is the separation of powers. Four major powers: (1) the people; (2) the Congress; (3) the President; (4) the Supreme Court. (1) The people = the voters = elect their representatives in the Congress. (2) The Congress = the House of Representative and the Senate = the legislative power = making the law. (3) The President = the executive power = signing the law, making it effective (a especial duty: the veto). (4) The Supreme Court = the legislative power = they interpret the law. What type of conflict? Part of the population had rights; part of the population had no rights. The basis of the Declaration of Independence of freedom and equality were completely broken at this point. Part of the population has no access to any of the powers above (1, 2, 3, 4). 1

2 What do we need to solve the conflict? Change the law. To do so, there has to be access to all the four powers. If you do not have access to any power, a way must be found. How do you do that? Strength, determination, motivation, time, effort, ideas,, and a leader. The leadership is vital in the conflict with authority. In this case, the leader is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The movement of the Civil Rights during the 1960s was constantly identified with his relevant figure. What is the movie showing? The protest of a group of Civil Rights Movement activities demanding one basic right in a democratic state: the right to vote. This is a basic right granted to any citizen. How did they do this? Negotiate, demonstrate, resist. In this case, marching is the option. Walking in the biggest group possible. Making them visible. They need to reach the national media, the press, the television, so everybody can see it (they already heard about it). After hearing and seeing, the help is coming. But above all, one demand from the leaders, the protest must be non-violent; no arguments to use the force can be given to the authority. What tool do you use then? The persuasion. What does it mean? To convince through words. Why did they choose Selma, as the perfect location? It is located in the very heart of the so-called Deep South, where the white supremacist/racist were in power and movements live the KKK (Ku Klux Klan) were recognized by part of the society. Historically, there are three main leaders who fought openly against racial discrimination and for equality: President Abraham Lincoln (19th century); President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (20th century); Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (20th century). They three have a terrible thing in common: they all were shot by a gunman and killed because of their social and political positions. The movie: 00:00:00-00:03:30 Martin Luther King Jr. during the rehearsal for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo (Norway) in :03:30-00:05:29 The indiscriminate attack to a group of children bombing an African American church. 00:05:29-00:08:18 An African American woman is getting ready for passing the test that grants her the right to vote. 2

3 00:08:18-00:12:50 A first meeting between President Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther King to discuss the right to vote issue. The President proposes to postpone the right to vote act, because he is focused on his political priority the eradication of poverty. The President refers to the Segregation Act (1964). 00:12:50-00:24:47 The next great battle = preparing the ground for the march in Selma. The political power to convince the African American community to retreat of their demands. The President chats with the director of the FBI about what can be done. They are worried about the next move. 00:24:37-00:27:23 Martin Luther King meets the African American community in Selma. This is the speech that settles the basis for the protest. 00:27:23-00:38:45 The march has to be prepared and some meetings are arranged to do so. The movement starts getting into business. 3

4 Aspects to take into account: (1) Negotiate, demonstrate, resist. (2) No cameras in Albany (nobody could see anything); a picture on the national press in the morning; images in the tv news at night. (3) First attempt to march, to Selma Court House. The protest ends with the leaders of the march in jail. (4) Speech of the governor of Alabama. (5) The news is on the national press the next morning. fight. (6) The conversation in jail about the consequences of this 00:38:45-00:50:49 Corretta King (Martin Luther King s wife) meets Malcolm X (another civil rights movement leader, more focused on the use of violence). The two movements meet here: non-violence versus the use of violence). There is a change in the perspective by Malcolm X and he brings an offer to unite forces. Authority moves against MLK and Malcolm X. The idea is to move MLK out of town; if the marches protest, so there are less cameras and the local authority can riot the marchers at night. A family escapes the march and hides in a restaurant. Let s see what happens there. MLK pays tribute to the family involved in the riot. 00:50:49-00:54:00 MLK speech at the funeral: Who killed Jimmie Lee Jackson? Another move by MLK, meeting again with the President. 00:54:00-00:58:23 Preparing the meeting. Authority is meeting at two levels: with the leader in a formal way and the delegates in a more informal way. Action: Which is your next move? by the President; To march from Selma to Montgomery by MLK. 4

5 one. Authority: You have one big issue. I have a hundred and Authority asked for a quid pro quo. 00:58:23-01:04:55 The family versus the cause. Listening to the phone threats, messages. Coretta: The constant closeness of death. 01:04:55-01:20:43 First attempt on the march. Different perspectives: against, the white/caucasian community; in favor, the African American community. And even there are different perspectives inside the African American community (the veterans and the youngsters). The march ends with a huge riot. There have been many like this one, some even worse, but the difference is the television is broadcasting the images by CBS News and 70,000,000 people are watching it. Consequences of the first attempt: (1) Casualties. (2) Quick response: an eye for an eye. 5

6 (3) Back to the bridge but with MLK this time. We all are created equal. Moral crusade. Another Civil War? 01:20:43-01:33:25 Second attempt on the march. More numerous (one third are white/caucasian). Troopers! Withdrawal! (The local authority allows passing the march; very different situation comparing to the first attempt). But MLK retreats. Confusion. A trap? People looking for an explanation. Violence is not now only against the African Americans, but it extended, as a warning message, to the white/caucasian community supporting the demand of the right to vote. A priest. Silence. From Boston. Silence. White. Longer silence. Dead. Phone conversation between the President and MLK. There is one important regret by MLK to the President: He called the 6

7 widow to express the presidential concern about the death of the priest; but he did not call the family of Jimmie Lee Jackson (the man killed at the restaurant). 01:33:25-01:40:55 The real leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He meets one of the young leaders who lost part of the trust on the leader after retreating at the bridge in the second attempt. MLK listens to the testimony of the young leader. We will triumph because there is no other way. There is a trial where a judge has to decide on the legal of issue of allowing the march from Selma to Alabama. The permission is approved after hearing all the parts and checking on all the rights denied to the African American community. 01:40:55 - end of movie Third and final attempt on the march. Presidential speech: Equal rights ; American problem ; We shall do this ; We shall overcome. 7

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