We're not asking, we're demanding: Vocabulary from "Selma," the movie

Although the words attributed to the historical figures captured in the film "Selma" -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Governor George Wallace of Alabama, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and President Lyndon B. Johnson -- were created by film creator Ava DuVernay and screenwriter Paul Webb for the purposes of the film, they carry the meaning, cadence, and certainly the vocabulary of their time.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abuse
    improper or excessive use
    "Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson? Every white lawman who abuses the law to terrorize."
  2. terrorize
    frighten greatly
    Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson? Every white lawman who abuses the law to terrorize.
  3. prejudice
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
    "Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson? ...Every white politician who feeds on prejudice and hatred."
  4. congregation
    group that habitually attends a particular place of worship
    "Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson?... Every white preacher who preaches the bible and stays silent before his white congregation."
  5. brutalize
    treat brutally
    "Every Negro man and woman who stands by without joining this fight as their brothers and sisters are brutalized, humiliated, and ripped from this Earth."
  6. humiliate
    cause to feel shame
    "Every Negro man and woman who stands by without joining this fight as their brothers and sisters are brutalized, humiliated, and ripped from this Earth."
  7. massive
    containing a great quantity of matter
    "We must make a massive demonstration! We will not wait any longer!"
  8. demonstration
    a show or display
    "We must make a massive demonstration! We will not wait any longer!"
  9. demand
    claim as due or just
    "We're not asking - we're demanding! Give us the vote!"
  10. disturb
    destroy the peace or tranquility of
    "That means protest! That means march! That means disturb the peace! That means jail! That means risk! That is hard!"
  11. incite
    provoke or stir up
    "He’s got supporters in Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, inciting large-scale arrests and sympathy marches."
  12. nonviolent
    achieved without bloodshed
    "What I do know is, he’s non-violent."
  13. motivated
    given incentive for action
    "Mr. President, in the South, there have been thousands of racially motivated murders. We need your help!"
  14. unacceptable
    not acceptable; not welcome
    "It is unacceptable that they use their power to keep us voiceless."
  15. voiceless
    deprived of the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote
    "It is unacceptable that they use their power to keep us voiceless."
  16. constitutional
    sanctioned by or consistent with or operating under the law
    As long as I am unable to use my constitutional right to vote, I do not have command of my own life.
  17. command
    an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
    As long as I am unable to use my constitutional right to vote, I do not have command of my own life.
  18. tolerate
    put up with something or somebody unpleasant
    "We will not tolerate agitators attempt in to orchestrate a disturbance in this state."
  19. agitate
    try to stir up (e.g., public opinion)
    "We will not tolerate agitators attempt in to orchestrate a disturbance in this state."
  20. orchestrate
    plan and direct (a complex undertaking)
    "We will not tolerate agitators attempt in to orchestrate a disturbance in this state."
  21. disturbance
    activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
    "We will not tolerate agitators attempt in to orchestrate a disturbance in this state."
  22. rural
    of or relating to the countryside as opposed to the city
    "You march those people into rural Alabama, it’s going to be open season."
  23. protest
    the act of making a strong public expression of disapproval
    "Those that have gone before us say, ‘no more! No more!’ That means protest. That means march."
  24. determine
    shape or influence; give direction to
    "As long as I am unable to use my constitutional right to vote, ...I cannot determine my own destiny."
Created on Wed Jan 14 11:56:13 EST 2015 (updated Wed Jan 14 13:27:19 EST 2015)

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