Moving forward

Dare to dream

In high school, history was the subject I always had trouble with. Remembering certain dates and important figures was always a headache for me because there was so much to grasp. But I knew the importance of knowing these individuals and the events that took place before my time. From Washington crossing the Delaware river to Lincoln bringing enslavement to an end in the Reconstruction Era, history is essential of reminding us and future generations of how far we've come, how much we've endured and how it can help us shape the unwritten future by learning from past mistakes. Or in this case, to reiterate the importance of standing up to injustice in the

world. Selma is the true story about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his campaign of bringing equal voting rights to the town of Selma, Alabama which would infamously become known as the Selma Voting Rights Movement of 1965. During this movement, King and his group dealt with great adversity and opposition, the enemy being not of race but hate. Selma forgoes trying to be entertaining and sticks with the facts of the events that happened. There's no hiding that this was a dark time in the U.S., dealing with sensitive issues such as racism, equality, political balance, etc. But much like a history lesson, Selma serves as a reminder of how much we've overcome and how important it is to fight for what we believe. It doesn't pull any punches, and isn't afraid to show both the brilliance and ugliness of what went on during the campaign. Selma is a magnificent film that everyone should watch, and gets my highest recommendation.

-Reviewed by Razor, 5/11/15