Selma to Montgomery march

Natalie Panico

JUSTICE

“The end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience” 

The Selma to Montgomery March has importance and significance because it was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. It showed the power of protesting for the less fortunate. Their success not only gained national attention to the injustices that Black citizens were facing, such as voter suppression in the South but also led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

That was a great achievement that took away legal obstacles that African Americans faced. The march continues to this day to serve as a powerful reminder of the struggles for racial equality.

Primary Sources

John Lewis’ Memoirs

These were excerpts from John Lewis’ personal writing or interviews that provide firsthand accounts of his experiences from the marches. Lewis shares his perspective and emotions about the march.

Footage from news networks that aired scenes of the march

News footage from ABC and other networks broadcasted the attacks on the marchers. The videos provide raw visuals of the marches.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “How Long, Not Long” speech

King delivered this speech at the Alabama State Capitol. This speech is a firsthand account on his perspective and ideas of the Selma to Montgomery March

Secondary Sources

Bearing the Cross by David J. Garrow

This book, written by David J. Garrow, interprets and analyzes information from other primary sources, such as speeches or letters.

“Eyes on the Prize” (1987)

“Eyes on the Prize” is a civil rights documentary series, which includes an episode focusing on the Selma to Montgomery march. This episode draws from other primary sources and organizes this information.

The Journal of Southern History or Civil Rights History Project

Both articles that are found in journals,  explore the Selma to Montgomery march’s background, strategies, and outcomes

 Map of the March Route

This graphic marks the route that the marchers took.

Includes:

  1. Edmund Pettus Bridge
  2. Stops along the way, where the protesters camped out.
  3. Montgomery State Capital, the marchers last destination.

 Infographic on Key Events

This graphic has a chronologic timelines of key events.

Includes:

  1. March 7, 1965: Bloody Sunday
  2. March 9, 1965: Turnaround Tuesday
  3. March 21-25, 1965: Final March

Impact graphic

Includes:

  1. Percentage of Black citizens in Selma, who were registered to vote.
  2. Number of marchers from each march
  3. Key facts about Selma to Montgomery March

SELma to montgomery March & 2020 George floyd/Black lives matter protest

The Selma to Montgomery March and 2020 Protests both share common similarities. They were both movements against racism and injustice. The march was to address the denial of voting rights for Black citizens. The protests, that took place in 2020, was sparked by the murder of George Floyd and purpose was to confront police brutality and systemic racism. Both events were set out to be peaceful, but were met by aggressive law enforcement, who attacked citizens with various weapons. Even though, these events were over 50 years apart, they were both broadcasted on news channels. The national uproar for both incidents was able to help the causes gain more supporters.

Events leading up to March

The events leading up to the Selma to Montgomery March were key to the marchers, but not direct causes of it. The killing of Jimmie Lee Jackson occurred on February 18, 1965, in Marion, Alabama. He was Black civil rights activist and was part of a peaceful protest, where he shot by a state trooper. This death played a pivotal role, but the march itself was organized ,by civil rights leaders, to draw attention to the inequalities that Black voters were facing.

Overview Of the significance of the Selma to montgomery march

The marches has major significance because it was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. It showed the power that non-violent protests can have over the government. The marcher’s success gained national attention, as well as, led to the Civil Rights Act of 1965. This was a great achievement in showing that it is possible to receive justice for the less fortunate.

key terms and definition

  1. Validity- The extent to which a source contains information that is factual and true. Primary sources and secondary sources on the marches can have Validity.
  2. Reliability- The trustworthiness of a source. You can use reliability tests, when trying to find if the sources you use for the information on Selma to Montgomery March is good.
  3. Primary sources- Historical sources that are a firsthand account of the historical event they describe. Speeches and Videos from Selma to Montgomery March are primary sources.
  4. Tertiary sources- Historical sources that compile information from a wide variety of other source documents and provide the author’s interpretation about the information when they present it. Books and Biographies about key figures can be an example of this key term.
  5. Bias- An unfair tendency to favor one side of an argument over another. Law enforcement had a bias against Black residents.