Talk:Selma, Alabama

Historical Importance

Why aren't there things in the article that allude to the historical importance of the city? This looks more like a census report!

Talk about the bombing, the boycotts, the emergence of King Jr.

There's a bigger more important role for Selma than just the numbers. But I'm a terrible writer, so if I do it it'll be ripped to pieces instantly.

--Duemellon 17:30, 10 Aug 2004 (UTC)

No, please do! We encourage people to be bold in editing. Best, [[User:Meelar|Meelar (talk)]] 17:35, 2004 Aug 10 (UTC)

The bombing was in Birmingham, and the bus boycott was in Montgomery - not in Selma. The only historical significance of Selma involving the Civil Rights Movement was the Selma to Montgomery March......CMS

After living in Selma for 5 years I seriously doubt that the above gun point incident happened. The people of Selma live and work together. There are a few vocal agitators on both sides of the aisle that stir up problems. These agitators do nothing to solve any problems and in fact gain personal wealth and fame by exploiting people's feelings and/or ignorance.

Selma's History does not begin or end with the Civil Rights Movement. Selma has a rich pre-civil war history that centered around commerce and trade, albiet this trade was based in part on the labor of slaves. The St. James Hotel which has been recently restored was a famous stop during the American Western push. Selma was established in 1820 and named after a book of poems. William Rufus King, a Vice President of the United States called Selma home and was one of the town's original organizers.

During the Civil War Selma served as the Arsenal of the South, second only to Richmond Virginia, with an extensive Complex of Iron Works, Foundries and other types of factories. The Confederate Naval Works were located on the Alabama River at Selma and the construction of the CSS Tennessee or Monitor was begun at Selma. The Battle of Selma occured in April of 1865, when Wilson's raiders raised parts of the town and destroyed all of the buildings of the Confederate Arsenal and Foundries.

The events of Bloody Sunday actually took place outside the city limits just over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Alabama State Troopers clashed with Civil Rights Marchers. The march through the city of Selma was violence free, but given its close proximity to the momentous events the City is infamous for the event.

Craig Air Force base, located near Selma,was a pivotal training facility during World War II and was active until the mid-70's.

Selma is simply much more than a Civil Rights.

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Civil rights, of course, translates to forced integration - specifically, blacks integrated into white male status environments. Vast majority of Americans prior to 1964 (white Christian males at that time), were in fact against the use of the federal legislative system to conduct what Sen. Barry Goldwater rightly called a "social engineering experiment". Still, white Christian males gave the black males what no other male group ever gave (gifted) to another people in all of human history:: integration rights into their status environments - and with NO QUID PRO QUO. It didn't stop there. White Christian males also gifted the black race complete access to THEIR living arrangements (their residential neighborhoods - again,with NO QUID PRO QUO)). TRULY AMAZING.

Of course, Wiki will never point out that white Christian people were not wronging the black race where and when they wanted (or demanded) a color line i.e. separate living/working arrangements. No constitutional rights were being denied the black race. Prior to 1964, in the mind of most white people, blacks, being a distinct people, were suppose to be separate from white people, so as to achieve self-reliance and a feeling of empowerment as a people. I thing it also deserves to be pointed out that at no time in American history was there ONE example where blacks sought out diversity (integration with white males) where and when they had an economic advantage. I wonder if wiki would EVER point that out in any of its articles on compulsory integration.

Also under the civil rights heading, I see that virtually ALL the white guilt conditioned-response words were used e.g. Jim Crow, KKK, white supremacy, etc. These words are used to make white people SUBMIT to the liberals and their guilt-tripping agenda. AGAIN, racial/ethnic group compulsory integration was not a US constitutional right. There were also no federal laws that existed from 1865 to 1964 requiring racial/ethnic integration (exception being Kennedy's executive order 10925).

The Selma to Montgomery march was encouraged by NBC, CBS & ABC, who had just went nationwide with their news in 1960. That is, the networks needed NEWS. Steven — Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.248.126.50 (talk) 04:02, 26 June 2014 (UTC)

Yes, yes — you have not yet told us whether you believe in forced *segregation*, buses, lunch counters and what not, mandated by law regardless of what the owners wanted. Goldwater did not, that was why he supported the previous two civil rights bills in the Senate (opposed by LBJ). He bailed on the ‘64 bill because of the force elements in it, this time for integration, rather than segregation. 31.74.17.9 (talk) 17:24, 8 February 2018 (UTC)

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I have my doubts as to the validity of the gunpoint incident. I lived in Selma for 23 years (including the period of time that this incident supposedly happened - would love to know the location of said incident). I actually had to laugh out loud over how comical that claim is when I read it. Selma is rich in history, both relating to the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, as well as a wide variety of other claims. Aside from that, it is typical small-town America. Growing up in the area, you are taught of it's rich history, both thru school and first-hand accounts from family members, neighbors, and friends. I always had the impression that Selma had a huge impact on US history as a whole, but after leaving Selma, I was absolutely AMAZED at the number of people - young and old - who had never even heard of the place....CMS

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Update

I've updated the entry for my hometown. Hopefully it's a little better now. ~ imanon

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IMANON - you are doing a great job with the site. Very accurate on all accounts...CMS

Wondering if the Battle of Selma, as informative and extensive as it is, should be moved to the "Battle of Selma" page, with a concurrent and very moderated summary remaining on the Selma page??

Yeah, the bulk (maybe 90%) of the battle information should be moved to the main article on the battle. 128.158.14.42 22:31, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

I concur. We need something of Selma's history from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement also. Selma remained a successful city after the war. Additionally, it currently does not address Selma's progress since 1965. I grew up near and attended school in Selma, there's a wealth of information that could still be added, just from internet sources. I worked on the Mobile, Alabama article for 3 months and got it to GA status, if anyone wants my help here, I'm available, just let me know. I won't step on toes otherwise. Currently working to improve the Cahaba, Alabama article from a stub into something better. Altairisfar_talk 01:32, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

Map

I removed that huge Alabama map that was overlapping the text and was not specific to Selma- the one that had a caption about the location of Selma and mentioned the Selma to Montgomery march, but did not really illustrate either. Altairisfar_talk 01:32, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

Joseph T. Smitherman

I just noted that Mayor Smitherman does not have an article. He probably should have one, as he was an important figure in the city's history. - Parsa (talk) 16:02, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

Muscogee history

An interesting entry and worthy of a separate article, but how does it relate specifically to the history of Selma? I've slashed it down to retain the original article focus.Wkharrisjr (talk) 14:35, 18 January 2011 (UTC)

Serious duplication

The section on the Civil War era appears to largely duplicate the content of a separate article: Selma,_Alabama_in_the_American_Civil_War. If someone has time to make sure nothing essential would be eliminated, it would probably be for the best to edit the section down to a paragraph or two and link to the other article for more details. Mrnatural (talk) 00:35, 17 September 2013 (UTC)

Modern Selma

Why is the place such a hole now, as compared to 1965? Worth looking at? 31.74.17.9 (talk) 17:28, 8 February 2018 (UTC)