As a junior at Alabama A&M University, I have become familiar with the “college struggle” and value any time I spend at home.

Coming home to Selma has been even more special recently, for obvious reasons. I have watched “Selma” twice at theaters in Huntsville. I am sitting on my hands waiting for it to be released on DVD. This movie is now my favorite, as it tells the story of my hometown like never before.

It’s raw, honest and my dad is even in it. (I saw him on screen three times!) When hearing critics and self-deemed historians complain and question its historic accuracy, I’m disturbed.

What’s the most accurate movie you have seen telling our story? I ask, assuming you know the difference between a movie and a documentary. A movie does not shine light on every person, location, or circumstance. If it did, “Selma” would last all day and people would walk out of the theater.

I applaud Ms. DuVernay and her crew for getting the story so close to the truth. I know it’s the truth because my parents, aunts, and grandparents marched and often share their experiences with our family.

Let’s redirect our attention to the real issue: the present state of Selma. What are residents doing to fix anything? I laughed at people saying Oprah and Co. don’t care about Selma, came for a short time, and won’t be back. Newsflash: that’s what visitors do! Tourists come year round to look at the bridge and go to museums. Once they get their fill of history, they go back home. Why are we expecting visitors to clean up our mess? Let’s step away from Facebook and other mediums used to complain and go into the community. Pick up some trash, tutor some kids, visit the sick. Shop in Selma and keep your tax dollars at home. Most importantly, if you aren’t satisfied with the people currently in office, vote them out!

Stop looking for a savior, pray to the one you have, and let’s get our boots on the ground. We know our problems, and clearly everyone wants to talk about them. Instead, let’s come together and work to make Selma the great city we know it can be.

Allison B. Moore 

Selma