If your not in the select cities, where Selma opened on December 25, you probably haven’t had the opportunity to watch the film yet. Chronicling the events leading up to the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama for voting rights in 1965, this film is set to release nationwide on January 9th starring British actor David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. and Carmen Ejogo as his wife Coretta Scott King. This biopic is sure to stir viewers to the core as they watch a point in time and set of events that would lead to significant changes in voting rights. It also serves as inspiration with all the trials and tribulations that were overcome to usher in a new era of equality, and this film documents it. Here are Five Ways “Selma” Inspires in the new year:
1 A stellar cast including Tess Thompson and Common, come together to tell a story of an event that would help launch the civil rights movement. It’s a young cast representing the young people who peacefully protested. They stood up for what they believed in and didn’t back down. It’s definitely a lesson in perseverance.
2 Oprah Winfrey joins the all-star cast as Annie Lee Cooper, a civil rights activist. Winfrey is known for her ability to deliver strong dramatic performances. Just look at her work in films such as The Color Purple (1985) and The Butler (2013). It’s not so shocking Winfrey is a media mogul, she doesn’t give up. She may not have been credited on “The Color Purple” poster, but look at her now, she’s a co-producer of “Selma.”
3 They say behind every great man is a great woman, this film gives us an opportunity to get a glimpse at the fortitude and diligence of the woman, Coretta Scott King, behind the revered civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., and a peak inside their relationship during such a tumultuous time. Relationships are hard work whether it’s between friends, siblings, or lovers, but sticking it out throughout thick and thin will make the bonds grow stronger.
4 If one person can truly make a difference, there’s no better example than Martin Luther King Jr. Not that he alone made a difference, but as a minister of a southern Baptist church, his faith and passion for equality led him to spearhead the Civil Rights Movement. Like many other men and women, he made personal sacrifices for the greater good.
5 Ava DuVernay, the first African-American woman to win the Best Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for her second feature film “Middle of Nowhere,” wrote and directed this biopic. The film is up for a Golden Globes Best Actor, Drama; Best Picture, Drama; and Best Director. Giving anything you do your all, could lead to reaching unprecedented goals and accomplishing great things beyond your imagination.
Image source: Paramount Pictures
