Be Inspired as the struggle as for equality continues…

Release Date: 9 January 2015
Directed by: Ava Duvernay

Cast:
David Oyelowo played the role of Martin Luther King Jr.
Oprah Winfrey played the role of Annie Lee Cooper
Carmen Ejogo played the role of Correta Scott King
Tim Roth played the role of Governer George Wallace
Tom Wilkinson played the role of President Lyndon Johnson

Are we equal? Is racial discrimination a thing of the past? Are there lessons to be learnt from the campaign which lobby for Blacks to have the right to vote as depicted in this movie?
The movie is based on a period in the life of Martin Luther King Jr played by David Oyelowo, this period starts with him accepting the Noble Peace Prize. During this period Martin Kuther King Jr. campaigns for the black man’s right to vote in America. The film take us through the drama and tragedy of this period. This movie has highlighted that we might be equal on paper but to be equal in society we need to fight for it.
The movie tells the story of human rights violations and that of the civil rights movement and the struggle to register to vote black people had in America. The story of black man’s right to vote. Martin Luther King Jr. the charismatic civil rights movement leader, who just won the Noble Peace Prize for his work in ending segregation, however does that mean we equal. Annie Lee Cooper a black women who want to register to vote. President Lyndon Johnson who had to make tough decision.
David Oyelowo played the role of Martin Luther King Jr. very well, he did particularly well in the scenes in which he address large crowds. It felt that I was watching the actual Martin Luther King Jr. on Youtube, his portrayal of his character was just inspirational as the man himself. Oyelowo did very well filling the boot of such a great man, this was his first lead role in a movie. Another actor in the movie who stood out was Oprah Winfrey she embraced the role of Annie Lee Cooper, she was the correct person to cast for the role because she could identify with struggle of being a black woman. This is not the first time Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelowo have acted together in a movie, they worked together in the movie called The Butler.
The movie’s director, Avu Duvernay told the story of the people in Selma who wished to register to vote at the court in a manner which made one feel as if one was there. As if this was a documented account of what had transpired rather than a movie of what transpired in Selma. The music, costume and dialect used in the film gave it authenticity. This substantiated by its nomination for Best Picture for Academy Awards and vice versa.
The movie has similarities in our struggle for democracy as South African. In South Africa we were also discriminated against because of the colour of our skin and black people were not allowed to vote. I was emotional with the bombing in the beginning but it tied into the story later on as it was not just shown to show the attacks on blacks during this time but it had a purpose.
The movie co-produced by the Plan B production company who has produced movies such as The Pursuit of Happyness and Oprah Winfrey who has produced movies such as The Butler, both telling stories of overcoming adversity.
In life we need inspiration as we face daily struggles in our pursuit for equality in life. This movie reminded me that there is light at the end of that tunnel. Go watch Selma and be inspired by the story of perseverance.