How to Watch Selma With Your Kids

Selma, Alabama, captures the attention of the nation in 1965 when a series of civil rights marches are held there. It’s also a place where King and his wife, Coretta, struggle to survive the often violent resistance to their movement.

The movie focuses on one of those demonstrations, Bloody Sunday, where state troopers attack peaceful marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It also details a second attempt to march, a much larger one.

1. Watch on a big screen

The Oscar-winning producer of 12 Years a Slave and award-winning director Ava DuVernay present the tale of courage and determination on the big screen. Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo leads the way as Martin Luther King Jr., the man whose vision and grit led to the epic march from Selma to Montgomery that changed the course of history. Oprah Winfrey, Carmen Ejogo and Common round out the star-studded cast.

The film is available for rent or purchase on Redbox, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube as well as over the air via a number of streaming services including Showtime Roku, DIRECTV, TBS and tru TV. For the rest of June, it will be free to stream on all digital platforms. Hopefully you will have the chance to check it out.

2. Watch with a group

Ava DuVernay’s Oscar-nominated Selma is one of the best historical dramas about civil rights in recent memory. It tells the story of the famous three-month campaign in 1965 that led to Martin Luther King’s historic Selma-to-Montgomery march for voting rights.

A major milestone in the American civil rights movement, the Selma-to-Montgomery marches prompted President Lyndon Johnson to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Designed to protect African-Americans from discrimination in the South, the law prohibited racial segregation in all aspects of government.

It is an important film for young people and their parents to see as it shows how much work it took to win equality in America. The movie also highlights how a lot of give-and-take was needed to achieve change in the South.

The movie begins with King (David Oyelowo) accepting his Nobel Peace Prize in December 1964 and ends with a critical Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights march on March 1965. The film follows the three-month lead-up to this historic event and introduces a number of key activists who worked with King to push for voting rights in the American South.

While many of the scenes in Selma are upsetting and disturbing, there are also moments that are more humorous or romantic. These include a moment when King and his wife make a visit to a preacher’s home for dinner. Or when a young woman named Lynda Lowery turns 15 and decides to take part in the Selma march.

Other scenes involve race-based violence, including police beating nonviolent protesters. There are also a number of racial slurs and strong sexual expletives in the script, as well as a crude hand gesture.

In addition, there are several scenes of violent interactions between police and protesters, including shots being fired and the use of tear gas. Some of these scenes are gruesome and can be upsetting for older teens and adults.

Although the movie does not go into great detail about some events in the Selma-to-Montgomery campaign, it is a very important movie that shows how much give-and-take was needed to win equality in America. The movie also focuses on a very specific time in the life of a legendary historical figure, which makes it especially important for teens to watch.

3. Watch with headphones

Whether you’re watching a movie, playing a game or streaming the latest blockbuster, a quality set of headphones can elevate your experience. Choose from a wide variety of wireless Bluetooth(r) headphones, noise-canceling headphones or headphones that are designed to handle all the highs, lows and mids your ears can handle.

If you’re a history buff, you’ll be glad to know that it took a lot of effort to bring Selma to the big screen. The film chronicles the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Nobel Prize-winning civil rights leader who led the fight for a more just and equitable America.

To make the film a success, Director Ava DuVernay enlisted the help of several Hollywood heavyweights. Ava is a longtime fan of MLK and was eager to honor him in a way that was not only memorable but also meaningful.

The film combines 360-degree panoramas with interviews that give viewers a sense of the complexities of race and economic disparities in America. It’s an immersive experience that’s worth the effort to navigate.

The film does a great job of telling the story of the most important event in American history, albeit a little sluggishly. The movie carries the most weight in its depiction of the tumultuous months that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It’s a must-see for anyone with an interest in American history.

4. Watch with your kids

Watching selma with your kids is a great way to learn about the civil rights movement and encourage your children to get involved in the fight for equality. This is especially important as we are living through a period in American history where people of color have been discriminated against and are still struggling to be fully included in our society.

The movie has its share of errors, but if you can work through those, the film can be a valuable tool to help your child understand this pivotal moment in history and the important lessons it teaches. For example, it provides a great opportunity to talk about nonviolent direct action and how it works to transform powerful politicians into social reformers.

If you want to explore this topic further, download the free resource guide "Chapter 6: Bridge to Freedom" from Facing History and Ourselves that will give your students an in-depth look at the events that led up to the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches. This learning guide includes activities to help your child understand this key event, the significance of nonviolent direct action, and how President Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther King worked together to pass the Voting Rights Act.

While some have criticized the film for its lack of historical accuracy, many say that it is an excellent movie with fantastic performances and an effective script that reflects the true spirit and achievements of Dr. King.

In the end, it is difficult to criticize a movie that portrays people in all their humanness and flaws, and Selma does just that. It's a film that doesn't shy away from the brutality of race-based violence, but it is also one that shows that humans can overcome even the most difficult obstacles.

Ava DuVernay's drama focuses on the three months leading up to the infamous Selma to Montgomery march, which took place in 1965 and is credited with changing the laws that allowed African Americans to vote. The movie also depicts the often-bloody interactions between nonviolent protesters and law enforcement.

The film has several disturbing scenes, including a church that is blown up and an incident in which four girls are killed by a white supremacist group. The movie also contains some excessive swearing and racial slurs, so it is not recommended for young children. However, it can be a powerful discussion starter for older teens and adults, who may be able to better handle the gruesome content.