High school students at Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy of International Studies 6-12 turned the movie theater into their classroom last week for a special screening of Selma. Spilt in two field trips, juniors and seniors visited Waterworks Cinemas on January 29, while the underclassmen had seen the movie two days prior.
Led by Paramount Pictures and a team of NYC African-American business leaders, organizations across the country have coordinated a national effort to provide free admission for students to experience the film ‘SELMA’. Currently, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders across the country can show their student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater to receive their free tickets.
There are no participating theaters in the Greater Pittsburgh area. As a result, Dr. Wayne Walters, Principal of Pittsburgh Obama and Pittsburgh Public Schools Assistant Superintendent, took it upon himself to ensure that every one of his students witnessed the Academy Award nominated movie.
‘Selma’, which hit theatres nationwide January 9th, highlights the three 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, which ultimately led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The movie also resurfaces sensitive topics such as the FBI wire tapings and intimidation tactics and the initial pushback from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
Directed by Ava DuVernay, the movie’s lineup includes David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth, Common, Lorraine Toussaint, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. The film recently won the Golden Globe for the original song ‘Glory’ by artists Common and John Legend. The movie is also nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards.
With 491 teenage learners, Walters recognizes that “movies are another mode of learning” for his students. “Selma is a significant moment in American history that all students should have some awareness of,” said Walters.
In the days leading up to the movie, Pittsburgh Obama social studies teachers reviewed the events surrounding Selma in class to provide students – context for the film.
Walters says that the sentiments outlined in ‘Selma’ closely align with the school’s motto—“Nothing in life is so complicated that it cannot be achieved by discipline and hard work.”
Imani Chisom, an African-American junior at the school, believes “Selma was truly a work of art. It was a beautiful film that displayed courage and the determination of the men and women who have changed history.”
Even though Chisom enjoyed the movie, she was more impressed that her school created a field trip surrounding the movie. “For my school to take this initiative, means a lot to me. It shows that our administrators really care about sharing our history with everyone and that they value that history.”
Junior Lynne Laffey, who is White, found that watching Selma was slightly more interactive than learning about it in the classroom. “It was really moving and interesting to actually watch what it was like rather than read it in our books.” Overall, the movie made Laffey “thankful for how we have things now.”
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