Essay on Struggle for Voting Rights: Analyzing the 'Bridge to Freedom' Episode in Eye on the Prize Series

Black American's struggle for inclusive voting rights bill forms an integral part of America's history. The 6th episode of Eye on the Prize series, Bridge to Freedom, presents a distressing account of the efforts made by black Americans to restore voting rights in Alabama. It outlines the chronicle of events that transpired during the Selma to Montgomery marches and the contributions of civil rights movements and activist groups such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) (Griffith & Baker, 2014, 143). The film combines an excellent use of narrations, recollections, and images to show the struggles black people underwent to fight against bigotry and discrimination.

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The episode's storyline examines the efforts made by black Americans to reinstate voting rights in Selma, Alabama. It focuses on the marching from Selma to Montgomery, evaluating the planning aspects and strategies employed during the picket. Besides, this part shows the fierce resistance that awaited the black protestors as they drew near the Edmund Pettus Bridge (Individual Thought, 2016). This encounter would result in a clash, referred to as 'Blood Sunday' where civil rights activists were beaten as they attempted the planned rally. To enhance the clarity of the events, the episode includes interviews with historians and participants to recollect the events. Generally, this documentary takes the perspective of ordinary people who transformed America to tell the story of the civil rights era.

The film attempts to narrate black Americans' journey to fighting for the restoration of voting rights in 1965, which forms an essential part of America's history. Although black people made up a significant part of the population, states such as Alabama placed obstacles that barred them from voting (Griffith & Baker, 2014, 143). Movements that were pioneered by black students and others led by renowned activists, such as Martin Luther Junior, rose to speak against this discrimination. They called for creating a comprehensive voting rights bill and the outlawing of the existing voting injustices in Selma, Alabama. These groups attempted to make voting rights a national issue, and the episode starts with their protests singing freedom songs and speaking out against the bigotry. Generally, the episode seeks to recollect the events that happened during these picketing activities and the efforts made by ordinary people. Such actions would later lead to the enactment of equal rights for everyone regardless of their race or color.

The episode was produced by Henry Hampton and directed by Callie Crossley. The producer is an American filmmaker who lived on the edge of a community comprising all-black working-class members. He founded Blackside Inc., a production firm that aimed at minority audiences. Hampton's work involved vast elements, including interviews, personal papers, and photographs taken during specific times (Individual Thought, 2016). Such an approach, coupled with his experiences living close to black Americans, gives Hampton ample authority to address it. Conversely, the director of this episode, Crossley, is a renowned history maker who features in the US's most extensive African-American film oral history assortment. Besides, she is a recognized lecturer on media, race, and politics. With such a background, she has adequate authority to direct this episode and address the issues in it. Therefore, the director and producers have the experience needed to discourse the topics in the film, enhancing its overall flow and credibility.

The primary agenda of the episode's producers was to show the struggles undergone by black Americans for the Voting Rights Act to become a federal law. This section includes interviews with protest participants and shows footage of some of the events that took place during the marches. The narrator tells of how six hundred people gathered for a rally despite the governor's warnings. He also talks of how people gave their lives in the battle for voting rights (Individual Thought, 2016). The film, therefore, wants the audience to appreciate the bravery and commitment displayed by activists and movements in advocating against bigotry and enhancing equitability for all Americans. Moreover, the episode also serves as a documentation of an integral part of America's history.

Words and images are effectively used to advance the film's agenda. In the various footage, the director emphasizes particular sections of the clips; for instance, Martin Luther's declaration of beginning a determined, organized, and mobilized campaign. Such words show the commitment that they had to fight for the given course. Additionally, the director highlights specific terms from the opposing parties, such as Mayor Smitherman's statement that he does not believe in biracial committees since he is a segregationist (Individual Thought, 2016). These words are emphasized in the episode to show the resistance black Americans would face in their fight against bigotry. The director also stresses comments from participants, such as going ahead with night-time marches, although the situation was tense. Words are, therefore, well used to show the struggles that the blacks faced and how determined they were to fight for equitability.

Conversely, the director uses images to advance their agenda by visually impacting the audience to relate to the events. The episode incorporates clips of black people marching in the streets and how police confronted them (Individual Thought, 2016). Such a depiction prompts the audience to appreciate the efforts made in the struggle. The film also shows black people being carried after being hurt by the police while the rest are pushed on harder. Their viewer can acknowledge their relentlessness from the footage of police officers throwing teargas while black Americans chant songs of freedom. By presenting real images of the struggles and confrontations, the audience can relate to the director's plan of showing black people's commitment to fighting for equal voting rights.

In narrating the historical event and advancing the director's agenda, the film uses several primary sources, including archival footage and interviews with participants. It shows clips of black Americans confronting the police, and various leaders fronting black people in the marches. The documentary also shows footage of placards carried by demonstrators and how the leaders communicated when organizing the picket. Besides, the video incorporates narrations from individuals such as Andrew Young and John Lewis, who were among the leading participants in the protests (Individual Thought, 2016). These people give recollections of the events outlining what they primarily intended and how they planned to organize successful matches. With such an approach, the film presents a first-hand account of the events, accompanying them with visual cues. Based on my knowledge of this historical era, I would have chosen similar sources as they have minimal bias and give an actual picture of events as they transpired.

Conversely, the directors also advance their agenda and narrate the historical event using secondary sources such as interviews with historians and quotes from other documentaries. Rev James Bevel presents an analysis of the movement's activities, outlining the likely consequences for possible actions. He talks of how the long march would prompt discussions on radio, papers, and television on the issues behind it. Bevel's analysis explains the likely motives behind the actions taken by the various groups. Conversely, quotes from renowned individuals in other documentaries, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Malcolm X on freedom, support black Americans' marches and move to seek equality. The quotes talk of the need for blacks to take the necessary measures to defend themselves and the need for the right to vote (Individual Thought, 2016). As such, they align with the film's director's primary motives. With my knowledge of the historical period from class, I would have taken a similar approach in selecting secondary sources as they would help in analyzing and evaluating the primary sources.

Conclusion

Overall, the struggle for equal voting rights through the formulation of a comprehensive voting rights bill involved a fierce battle that claimed several lives but ultimately attained its objective. There were clashes with police officers and objections from various leaders, but the black Americans were relentless in their course. The Bridge to Freedom episode of Eye on the Prize series includes archival footage and interviews from participants to bring a clear picture of what transpired. Besides, it has quotes from renowned persons in history and analysis from historians, enhancing its coherence. Generally, I would recommend this documentary as a credible source for understanding the path to freedom concerning black Americans' right to vote. The film offers a wide selection of visual prompts and narrations that would be valuable in understanding the highlighted historical event.

References

Griffith, R., & Baker, P. C. (2014). Major problems in American history since 1945: Documents and essays (4th ed.). Houghton Mifflin.

Individual Thought. (2016, April 15). Eyes On The Prize - (Part 6) Bridge to Freedom 1965 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej2BCUIdUI4