Selma, The Movie: History or Fable

Hollywood at one time gave some of their westerns an historical venire.  Did it matter?  Not really.  Did it send the right message?  Who cared?  It was a western -- cowboys riding around shooting at Indians, bad guys, or Mexicans.  It was designed to deliver thrills.  No one thought to judge it on its fidelity to actual events.  It was a western.

"Shogun, " "The Longest Day," " Exodus" were also stories based on historical events.  However, they sought greater fidelity to the historical events portrayed. From these movies the audience came away believing they had learned something.  They sought to give the audience an understanding of what was involved in each of the conflicts depicted.

And, that's where "Selma" falls down.  While the Civil War ended slavery, serious issues remained; namely, Jim Crow and the violence perpetrated on African-Americans under Jim Crow.

To show how African-Americans led by the Rev. Martin Luther King, finally, and under great danger to their lives, brought Jim Crow to its knees is a story for all Americans.  It is a story sadly marked by King's murder.  But, while it seems that the flames of mindless hatred can never be entirely extinguished, the soul of Jim Crow can be said to have been vanquished.  However, to tell this story, with no acknowledgement of the brave, white Americans, who stood with King, is to demean their labors, and their sacrifices, and to warp the understandings of African-Americans who go to see this movie.

There are people, a great number of people, who are warped by hatred.  But, in the most horrific of situations, there can also be found people who will risk their lives to do the right thing.  Though the number of righteous Christians, who put their lives and their family's lives at risk for the purpose of saving Jews were small, they must be acknowledged.  People like Wallenberg of Sweden saved thousands of Jews.  Jews know that.  And, Jews know they ought to do that for others.  This acceptance of facts takes nothing away from Jews and their history.  Indeed, most Jews will acknowledge that this is something that must be taught to Jews.

The producers of "Selma" say that their movie is for blacks.  That if the whites want to tell their story, they should make their own movie.  I can't think of anything more damaging to race relations in American than such a statement.  Americans are one people that have emerged from many peoples and many cultures.  Do black leaders now favor the segregation of cultures?  Whites have been taught, and are being taught, and should be taught, of the contributions of African-Americans to the greater American culture.  Do African-Americans now want this country to take a different tack?

Are people like Schwerner, Goodman and Chaney to be so quickly forgotten?  Are the efforts -- largely successful efforts -- by LBJ to be, not simply forgotten, but to be denied, when telling the story of the African-American experience?