Final answer:
The film 'Selma' dramatizes the Selma-to-Montgomery marches and their impact on the civil rights movement and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, emphasizing the determination of activists, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., to achieve equality through nonviolent protest.
Step-by-step explanation:
The film Selma is a historical dramatization that highlights the significant events of the Selma-to-Montgomery marches in 1965, which were pivotal actions within the civil rights movement. These marches were instrumental in the eventual passing of the Voting Rights Act, a major achievement that sought to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. Selma's portrayal of these events sheds light on the intense struggle for African American enfranchisement and the resistance faced by civil rights activists, embodied in such figures as Martin Luther King Jr., who led the marches. The march, especially the brutal response by state troopers on what became known as "Bloody Sunday," helped galvanize public opinion and contributed to the legislation that aimed to ensure voting rights for all Americans.
A poignant moment in the civil rights movement was captured during the march when activists like John Lewis stated their mission to win "first-class citizenship" for African Americans. The Selma Campaign became a symbol of the movement's determination in overcoming systemic racial barriers and the use of nonviolent protest to achieve significant change. The film also connects to larger themes in African American history, such as systemic poverty and the long fight against racial inequality.