On Tuesday, February 14, 2017, Odell Public Library Friends will present one of the most powerful films of the last several years, “Selma.” Odell Public Library is located at 307 S Madison Street, Morrison, IL.
The film zeros in a crucial chapter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy. It shows a three-month period in early 1965, when he led a campaign of civil disobedience, to speed up the passage of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Voting Rights Act.
Although we all know about the march from Selma to Montgomery, AL, the director tells a compelling story of the backroom meetings, compromises, and veiled threats that we never witnessed. David Oyelowo plays Dr. King and reveals to us the Dr. King that is not in the history books. We not only view his humor, weaknesses, and self-doubt but also hear his soaring oratory.
As the film opens, we see the everyday humiliations suffered by African-Americans in the 1960’s: exclusion from jobs, housing, education; the obstacles faced in securing the Constitutional right to vote. To draw media attention to this injustice, King and his fellow leaders plan an historic, nonviolent march from Selma to Montgomery. There are moments in the film, which seem recent, although they happened 51 years ago.
No matter our age, Dr. King’s inspiring speeches during this time period still reverberate. Toward the end of the film, his “We Shall Overcome” speech is guaranteed to make the hairs on your neck stand up. This movie is a most-necessary reminder of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did for this Country, and of how much is left to do.
Join us for this timeless story of a man who changed our world.
Doors open at 2:00 p.m., and there is no charge. Donations are always welcome.