The Controversy Surrounding Selma Critics are turning a sharper eye towards historical inaccuracies in Hollywood films such as “Selma” as people increasingly rely on them for accounts of the past. Ava DuVernay’s film, “Selma,” depicts the pivotal ending moments in the fight for voting rights and some of the major leaders who drove the fight forward. Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson play prominent roles during this vital time. While critics have cited several historical inaccuracies in the portrayal of Johnson in “Selma,” the film has fallen victim to more than just basic criticisms. Controversy surrounds DuVernay’s film regarding her depiction of both the roles and relationship of Johnson and King. “Selma” describes King
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Mark K. Updergrove, who at the time was director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Library in Austin, Texas, found the portrayal of Johnson to be factually inaccurate and a dangerous mischaracterization in modern times of growing racial tension. However, the opinion that Updergrove brings with his criticism is one strongly in favor of the Johnson of reality. As director of the LBJ Library, he takes up the role of guarding Johnson’s legacy, and thus criticizing anything that could go against that legacy. While Updergrove pays attention to the concern of modern racial tensions, he overlooks the extreme differences in perspective between DuVernay’s film and archives of the past that account for the very historical inaccuracies he points out. Joseph A. Califano Jr., former top assistant of affairs to Johnson, also calls the film out for historical inaccuracy. While Califano mainly focuses on the archival record regarding Johnson’s opinions towards voting rights, he too fails to focus on who wrote those records, and what weight they could have carried. Also a defender of Johnson’s legacy, Califano takes personal offense to the contrast between DuVernay’s film and previous accounts of the Selma march, but does nothing to look at why that contrast may occur. He also makes the claim that “Selma” was actually Johnson’s idea, though this is quickly debunked by most other …show more content…
Many do not want to risk drawing a racially charged time period into debate during present times of racial tension. This too boils down to the difference between previous accounts of the events surrounding the Selma march and DuVernay’s portrayal. Von Tunzelmann and Joseph believe the strength that the black population in the film shows as well as the purposeful disregard for the white people in “Selma” who also played a crucial role at the time offends many. The offense people take shows their disapproval of this different perspective of history, and “Selma” brings to light these racial
Mark K. Updergrove, who at the time was director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Library in Austin, Texas, found the portrayal of Johnson to be factually inaccurate and a dangerous mischaracterization in modern times of growing racial tension. However, the opinion that Updergrove brings with his criticism is one strongly in favor of the Johnson of reality. As director of the LBJ Library, he takes up the role of guarding Johnson’s legacy, and thus criticizing anything that could go against that legacy. While Updergrove pays attention to the concern of modern racial tensions, he overlooks the extreme differences in perspective between DuVernay’s film and archives of the past that account for the very historical inaccuracies he points out. Joseph A. Califano Jr., former top assistant of affairs to Johnson, also calls the film out for historical inaccuracy. While Califano mainly focuses on the archival record regarding Johnson’s opinions towards voting rights, he too fails to focus on who wrote those records, and what weight they could have carried. Also a defender of Johnson’s legacy, Califano takes personal offense to the contrast between DuVernay’s film and previous accounts of the Selma march, but does nothing to look at why that contrast may occur. He also makes the claim that “Selma” was actually Johnson’s idea, though this is quickly debunked by most other …show more content…
Many do not want to risk drawing a racially charged time period into debate during present times of racial tension. This too boils down to the difference between previous accounts of the events surrounding the Selma march and DuVernay’s portrayal. Von Tunzelmann and Joseph believe the strength that the black population in the film shows as well as the purposeful disregard for the white people in “Selma” who also played a crucial role at the time offends many. The offense people take shows their disapproval of this different perspective of history, and “Selma” brings to light these racial