Selma

I recently experienced the movie Selma and was profoundly moved. I have to admit that my knowledge of this event was not very detailed, knowing only the end result being the proposal and ultimate passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was so necessary because of the "Jim Crow" system of government-sanctioned racial oppression and segregation in American south. It was sad to see the treatment of African Americans, but was especially shocking to me was the barriers put up to block Blacks from their right to vote. First, you had to get a "voucher" from another registered voter, stating that you were, who you said you were. Considering that less than 2% of eligible voters in Alabama at that time were African American, this was nearly impossible! Then, the next thing you had to do was pay a poll tax for all the years you were eligible to vote and failed to vote. If you could get over that hurdle, you then had to be brave enough to walk into a courthouse, fill out an application and answer any obscure question that the registrar deemed relevant. If you made it through that inquisition, then your name and address was posted in the local newspaper for any lunatic to harass and attack you in your home! It was madness and it was the law!
I was moved to tears watching hatred and violence unleashed upon these peaceful protesters, some being murdered, without trial. It was pressed upon me that these marchers were some of the bravest people our nation has ever known. They marched, knowing that they would be assaulted and yet, they did not retaliate in kind. It was hard, but they knew their cause was just. As Dr. King stated, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
In  the theatre, there were many young people there and I was glad to see that. At the depiction of President Johnson introducing the Voting Right legislation, there was an eruption of applause, as there was at the end. In Dr. King's Noble Peace Prize speech, he stated, "What we are seeing now is a freedom explosion, the realization of 'an idea whose time has come'". It struck me that 50 years later and considering the protests in New York City and Ferguson, MO. that this is a movie, whose time has come. It is my prayer that we might honor the legacy of these modern prophets and courageous Americans with bold action to stand in solidarity with those in need. That's what Jesus did and expects from his followers.