SCLC and King, as well as other freedom fighting organizations protested and used the press to gradually force President Johnson and his political allies to present legislation to the U.S. Congress. This national and international public opinion along with thousands of other people and freedom organizations lobbied and gradually won passage of the 1964 Voting Rights Act (Remember, this all occurred after King/SCLC and others had many meetings with President Lyndon B. Johnson who had several times refused by saying no and he had other priorities).
The film also touches on the political differences of opinion and tactical actions that SNCC (Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee) and SCLC struggled around pertaining to how the actions and tactical protests should be conducted. Critically important was the strategic question of how the various tactics would grant Black people power and the human right to vote.
Selma also depicts in one scene how Brother Malcolm X and Dr. King continued their ever present long debate on which way forward for Black freedom and liberation, where Malcolm and Coretta Scott King came to an agreement that both tactics had a common strategy of human rights. "We are all fighting the same fight but are going about it in different ways". Selma briefly touches on how President L.B. Johnson and J. Edgar Hoover, and U.S. Attorney General Bobby Kennedy all conspired in various ways against King. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover attempted several times with the government's Counter Intelligence Program. Unidentified cassette tapes using recorded sounds of Dr. King having sex with other women were sent to his wife Coretta.
Selma shows that Dr. King didn't have all of the answers and often sought the advice of other leaders and certainly needed the support and leadership of many SNCC and local grassroots community organizers. He often called upon other SCLC and other freedom fighting comrades in the movement and around him. In was inspiring to see that many of the marches in Selma were led by the youth including John Lewis and James Foreman of SNCC, James Bevel, Dr. King of SCLC, and the late Union leader Hosea Williams.
We must remember that the film "Selma" is "not a documentary film" based on the concrete historical facts and the entire political context of this important movement. We must read books, study collectively and explore even deeper for the true valuable lessons that this historical movement reveals. However, it is very critically important that we all see the importance of the role of strong organizations in our struggle.
Also, we must see this "film dramatization" of Selma events as only a starting point to pick up on many books written by our peoples ' activist Black scholars who are sharing the valuable lessons that lead up to this historical period of time of advanced social democratic reforms like the resistance movement of the "Bloody Sunday" Selma march in Alabama. What valuable lessons does it have for us in the midst of the current developing anti- racist police repression "Black Lives Matter" movement (post Trayvon Martin/Fla., Mike Brown/Furguson, Mo., Eric Gardner, NYC murders)?
Long lasting victories come with a price of lessons learned!
This Black History Month, February 2015, join our Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center's Book Club! Study and apply the valuable historical lessons of this rich movement of struggle for human rights, freedom and Black Liberation. This is just one more way to raise the consciousness and engage people collectively in organizations around a concrete and correct perspective.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
2015 Calender of Events
January 2015
10th,Saturday; Hip Hop 4 Justice (HH4J) M.L.K. planning meeting– 11:00am
19th ,Sunday; World Cultural Cinema – Commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement of 60’s & Social Justice & Workers Movements of today.4:00 - 6:00pm. $5 suggested donation. Trivia Contest & Refreshments.
24th, Saturday; HH4J Honoring the Legacy of M. L. King; Unity in the Community Social Mixer 6:00pm – 10:00pm featuring Reggae & R&B band – Lost-N-Sound; $5 suggested donation.
25th , Sunday; BWFJ Wake/Durham Chapter Meeting – 3:00pm
*****************
February 2015
1st, Sunday; Super Bowl XLIX (49) Viewing Party; Watch the game on the big screen; food & fun; trivia contest & prizes! – 5:00pm;$7 suggested donation
14th, Saturday; Moral March/HKonJ9 – Historic Thousands on Jones St. – Mobilizing to End Poverty & for Economic Justice; assemble at 9:00ammarch begins at Shaw University at the intersection of Wilmington & South St. in Raleigh, NC; 10:00am; call 919-682-4700 ext .130 or check www.hkonj.com or www.naacpnc.org for more information. For action alerts text “NAACP” to 46988
13th, Friday;
7-10pm; HH4J presents - Black Life Matters – Black Love with Justice Celebration & Social Mixer.
14th; private party @ FOLWCC
21st, Saturday; World Cultural Cinema; Celebrating Black History Month & Malcolm X’s Birthday (Feb. 19th); Watch 2 thought provoking films & participate in our lively discussion/critique/analysis; 3pm – 7pm; $5 suggested donation. Trivia Contest & Refreshments.
22nd , Sunday; BWFJ Wake/Durham Chapter Meeting – 3:00pm
****************
March 2015
8th, Sunday; World Cultural Cinema; Celebrating International Working Women’s Month; Watch 2 thought provoking films & participate in our lively discussion/critique/analysis; 3pm – 7pm; $5 suggested donation. Trivia Contest & Refreshments.
14th, Saturday; HH4J planning meeting– 11:00am
28th, Saturday; HH4J Event 6:00pm – 10:00pm featuring music, spoken word, video shorts, discussion, food, trivia prizes & fun; $5 suggested donation.
29th, Sunday; BWFJ Wake/Durham Chapter Meeting – 3:00pm
***************
April 2015
4th, Saturday; 10:30am- 12:30pm; Get Moving & Celebrate National Minority Health Month; Zumba & Hip Hop Abs class. Health info & healthy snacks available.
11th, Saturday; Black Workers for Justice 32nd Birthday Celebration & its’ Annual M.L. King, Jr. Support for Labor Banquet; NCAE Bldg. 700 S. Salisbury St.,;Raleigh, NC; 5pm sharp; tickets $35; contact FOLWCC for more & updated information.
19th, Sunday; World Cultural Cinema; Celebrating Earth Day; Watch a thought provoking films & participate in our lively discussion/critique/analysis; 3pm – 6pm; $5 suggested donation. Trivia Contest & Refreshments.
25th, Saturday; Hip Hop 4 Justice (HH4J) planning meeting & Trumpet of Conscience book discussion. (The Trumpet of Conscience features five lectures that Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered in November and December 1967.)
26th, Sunday; BWFJ Wake/Durham Chapter Meeting – 3:00pm
****************
May 2015
1st, Friday; International Workers Day Celebration, Fish Bowl dialogue: The State of Workers Today – Are we “Keeping it in the Road” or have we Stalled, Wrecked or Need an Alignment? Potluck dinner. 6:00pm – 7:30pm.
9th, Saturday; 9:30am – 10:45; Celebrate Women’s Health Month; exercise class (Brazilian Dance); health info. & healthy snacks!
9th, Saturday; Hip Hop 4 Justice (HH4J) M.L.K. planning meeting– 11:00am
10th, Sunday; Annual Dinner at the FOLWCC Celebrating Women & Mothers as Peace Keepers; 3:00pm – 5:30pm; $15; Come out with your family as we recognize & celebrate the strong women building & making a difference our families and communities.
23rd, Saturday; HH4J Event 6:00pm – 10:00pm featuring music, spoken word, video shorts, discussion, food, trivia prizes & fun; $5 suggested donation.
24th, Sunday; BWFJ Wake/Durham Chapter Meeting – 3:00pm
****************
June 2015
6th, Saturday; Hip Hop 4 Justice (HH4J) M.L.K. planning meeting– 11:00am
6th, Saturday: 9:30am – 10:45; Celebrate Men’s Health Month; Get moving with a T-25 & Boot Camp workout! Health info & healthy snacks!
14th, Sunday; Annual Juneteenth Celebration & 7th Annual Spoons of Justice Cook-Off; 3:30pm – 6:00pm; Calling all “Sisters who can Stir” & “Brothers who can Burn” to see who can claim this year’s coveted Cook-Off Champion Trophy! Enter your best dish and the people will judge who wins! If it is advisable that you not share your culinary skills with the general public; come out, taste dishes that are entered, be a judge & help pick this year’s winner! It’ll only cost you $10. 4-4-$30. E-mail us at the address above for a registration form & more information.
26th -28th, Friday-Sunday; Great Labor Arts Exchange; Silver Springs, MD; Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble performs and receives the Joe Hill Artist’s Award.