Selma case leadership analysis
Selma Case Briefing Note
The assessed Group work is the Selma case – the relevant section of the film will be shown in class. This section should last for about 50 minutes. Below you will find the briefing note and the five broad areas on which we wish you to focus – please note the specific questions. There are copies of the DVD in the library but each team may wish to purchase a copy as it is recommended that you view the relevant section of the DVD both individually and as a team – it is available from Amazon for less than £6. You may also find it on You Tube.
Link: https://yesmovies.vc/movie/selma-3180/1366737-16/watching.html
Background
Selma is a town in Alabama where three protest marches took place in 1965 in demonstration of the democratic rights of African-American citizens being refused their constitutional right to vote; known as the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches. The film presents this as the reaction to the death of four girls at a church when a Ku Klux Klan bomb is detonated and the obstruction of Annie Lee Cooper’s attempts to register to vote. However it was representative of a wide civil rights movement in the US. Whilst African-Americans had the legal right to vote, many of the Southern States were still segregated at this point, with access to legal rights frustrated by White administrations.
King, a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), travelled to Selma after being invited by the Dallas County Voters League (DCVL). The DCVL and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) had recently joined together in an effort to increase voter registration and political awareness. Together they plan a peaceful sit-down protest at the local registration office. King and other SCLC activists are arrested, leading to further tensions and protests. The Alabama Governor, George Wallace and Al Lingo, the director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, decide that force should be used at an upcoming protest march. During this protest march Jimmy Lee Jackson is shot by a state trooper.
This case study focuses on the leadership of King and his role in the march from Selma to Montgomery following the unrest at peaceful protest and the death of Jimmy Lee Jackson. This was a march which the White House advised against for the safety of the protestors and in particular Martin Luther King. With the exception of the relationship between King and Johnson, which has more collaborative than represented in the film, Selma is considered to be historically accurate.
Characters
Martin Luther King Jr. SCLC President
Annie Lee Cooper Selma Citizen
President Lyndon B Johnson President of the US
Coretta Scott King Martin Luther King’s wife
John Lewis SNCC Chairman
James Beval SCLC Director
Malcolm X Civil Rights Activist
Sheriff Jim Clark Dallas County (Alabama) Sheriff
Jimmy Lee Jackson Civil Rights Protester
Al Lingo Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety
George Wallace Alabama State Governor
Task
Your task is to critically evaluate the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. during the events at Selma Alabama. The following questions should guide this assessment. As Selma is based on historical events further sources are available and can be used in this assessment
1. What leadership traits did King demonstrate during the Selma marches to support and advance the civil rights cause?
2. King employed various tactics when dealing with various people or groups. What does this imply about his leadership style?
3. Several civil rights groups joined to facilitate the protests at Selma, and there were disagreements as to the approach taken by King. In particular there was criticism of his choice not to continue the second march. Was he the right person to lead this protest?
4. Assess King’s overall leadership, using appropriate models/theories
5. There are further prominent historical leaders portrayed in Selma. Using appropriate models assess their leadership and influence on these events.
Each of the above 5 tasks will receive equal weighting when assessed.
Please remember that there is no right or wrong answer to the questions above. What we are looking for is both:
• A demonstration of knowledge and understanding and leadership, and
• An ability to utilise theory and analyse the complex issues portrayed in this case.
In this type of group exercise we advise that each member views the entire movie individually making extensive notes as it unfolds. Shortly thereafter you should get together with the members of your team (either face-to-face, or via Skype or Facetime) to compare notes and work out a plan of action to complete your Group report. After receiving the input of your colleagues you may wish to view the relevant section of the movie again.
Make sure that your report is well-written, clearly organised and has a logical flow. In terms of writing style, I suggest you effectively write a management report with references. Therefore, please feel free to use headings. The answer should be a collective effort – but we accept that the group may not agree on all points. Where there is disagreement, or where you are undecided on a point, say so in your report, explaining this.
Stress is placed on referencing and the application of appropriate theory. There is a guide to referencing on the Library website. If you do not follow these guidelines you will lose marks.
Your report should be about 2,500 – 3,000 words excluding references, typewritten – Ariel 11 point, single-sided, 1.5 line spacing. A 10 per cent variation in word count is acceptable.
Submission date via Turnitin to be advised.
The assessed Group work is the Selma case – the relevant section of the film will be shown in class. This section should last for about 50 minutes. Below you will find the briefing note and the five broad areas on which we wish you to focus – please note the specific questions. There are copies of the DVD in the library but each team may wish to purchase a copy as it is recommended that you view the relevant section of the DVD both individually and as a team – it is available from Amazon for less than £6. You may also find it on You Tube.
Link: https://yesmovies.vc/movie/selma-3180/1366737-16/watching.html
Background
Selma is a town in Alabama where three protest marches took place in 1965 in demonstration of the democratic rights of African-American citizens being refused their constitutional right to vote; known as the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches. The film presents this as the reaction to the death of four girls at a church when a Ku Klux Klan bomb is detonated and the obstruction of Annie Lee Cooper’s attempts to register to vote. However it was representative of a wide civil rights movement in the US. Whilst African-Americans had the legal right to vote, many of the Southern States were still segregated at this point, with access to legal rights frustrated by White administrations.
King, a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), travelled to Selma after being invited by the Dallas County Voters League (DCVL). The DCVL and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) had recently joined together in an effort to increase voter registration and political awareness. Together they plan a peaceful sit-down protest at the local registration office. King and other SCLC activists are arrested, leading to further tensions and protests. The Alabama Governor, George Wallace and Al Lingo, the director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, decide that force should be used at an upcoming protest march. During this protest march Jimmy Lee Jackson is shot by a state trooper.
This case study focuses on the leadership of King and his role in the march from Selma to Montgomery following the unrest at peaceful protest and the death of Jimmy Lee Jackson. This was a march which the White House advised against for the safety of the protestors and in particular Martin Luther King. With the exception of the relationship between King and Johnson, which has more collaborative than represented in the film, Selma is considered to be historically accurate.
Characters
Martin Luther King Jr. SCLC President
Annie Lee Cooper Selma Citizen
President Lyndon B Johnson President of the US
Coretta Scott King Martin Luther King’s wife
John Lewis SNCC Chairman
James Beval SCLC Director
Malcolm X Civil Rights Activist
Sheriff Jim Clark Dallas County (Alabama) Sheriff
Jimmy Lee Jackson Civil Rights Protester
Al Lingo Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety
George Wallace Alabama State Governor
Task
Your task is to critically evaluate the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. during the events at Selma Alabama. The following questions should guide this assessment. As Selma is based on historical events further sources are available and can be used in this assessment
1. What leadership traits did King demonstrate during the Selma marches to support and advance the civil rights cause?
2. King employed various tactics when dealing with various people or groups. What does this imply about his leadership style?
3. Several civil rights groups joined to facilitate the protests at Selma, and there were disagreements as to the approach taken by King. In particular there was criticism of his choice not to continue the second march. Was he the right person to lead this protest?
4. Assess King’s overall leadership, using appropriate models/theories
5. There are further prominent historical leaders portrayed in Selma. Using appropriate models assess their leadership and influence on these events.
Each of the above 5 tasks will receive equal weighting when assessed.
Please remember that there is no right or wrong answer to the questions above. What we are looking for is both:
• A demonstration of knowledge and understanding and leadership, and
• An ability to utilise theory and analyse the complex issues portrayed in this case.
In this type of group exercise we advise that each member views the entire movie individually making extensive notes as it unfolds. Shortly thereafter you should get together with the members of your team (either face-to-face, or via Skype or Facetime) to compare notes and work out a plan of action to complete your Group report. After receiving the input of your colleagues you may wish to view the relevant section of the movie again.
Make sure that your report is well-written, clearly organised and has a logical flow. In terms of writing style, I suggest you effectively write a management report with references. Therefore, please feel free to use headings. The answer should be a collective effort – but we accept that the group may not agree on all points. Where there is disagreement, or where you are undecided on a point, say so in your report, explaining this.
Stress is placed on referencing and the application of appropriate theory. There is a guide to referencing on the Library website. If you do not follow these guidelines you will lose marks.
Your report should be about 2,500 – 3,000 words excluding references, typewritten – Ariel 11 point, single-sided, 1.5 line spacing. A 10 per cent variation in word count is acceptable.
Submission date via Turnitin to be advised.
Previous answers to this question
This is a preview of an assignment submitted on our website by a student. If you need help with this question or any assignment help, click on the order button below and get started. We guarantee authentic, quality, 100% plagiarism free work or your money back.
Get The Answer