Actor Stan Houston was destined to play the role of one of the most notorious characters in southern civil rights history, Sheriff Jim Clark in the movie, “Selma.”
Case in point:
Houston lives in the small Alabama town where Clark lived and died. Oprah Winfrey played the role of Annie Lee Cooper, the civil rights activist who was repeatedly denied the right to vote. Cooper was the step-mother to deceased and beloved Hill District resident Dewayne Cooper. In the movie, Annie Cooper is mercilessly beaten with a billy club by Clark, which was seen around the world on national TV.
“Selma was a story that needed to be told,” said Houston, a Blakely, Ga., native who turned down the role of Clark twice.
“Where I grew up in Georgia, it didn’t desegregate until the 1970s. My dad owned a gas station and I remember seeing the colored and White only signs. “I see both sides living here in south Alabama. We’ve been here for over 300 years. We should all get along,” continued Houston who began his acting career in 2008. “Civil Rights was briefly mentioned when I was in high school. Selma was never mentioned. I was educated on ‘Bloody Sunday’ when I was a student at Albany State University.”
Written and directed by Ava DuVernay, executive producer Paul Garnes (who was born in Pittsburgh), produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Oprah Winfrey, “Selma” tells the 1965 poignant true story of more than 2,000 people on a five-day, 54-mile trek from Selma, Ala., to the state’s capitol of Montgomery to fight for equal voting rights and change, despite the fact that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the American South.
The march was led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was the catalyst for President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In addition to Houston, British actors David Oyelowo portrayed King, Carmen Ejogo portrayed Coretta Scott King and Tim Wilkinson portrayed Johnson. Tim Roth played Governor George Wallace, Omar Dorsey played Rev. James Orange and Rapper/Actor Common played George Bevel.
“We knew this film was going to be special,” Houston said. “We had to keep things loose on the set in between scenes or else we would go nuts. At times when it was the hardest to do the difficult scenes we would gather together, hold hands and pray. Ava is a phenomenal director and of course working directly with Oprah was a dream come true for me as it would be for most actors.”
Since its national Jan. 9 release and most recently its European launch, “Selma” has gained critical acclaim from movie- goers and critics alike. It received two Oscar nominations— Best Motion Picture and Best Song—but none of the actors received Oscar nods for their impassioned performances.
Nonetheless, Houston is sure the movie “Selma” will be a vehicle to increase communication and reconciliation of what at times is a divided society.
“When people see this movie, I hope they get a tear in their eye and a smile on their faces after seeing a film about triumphing over racism. I hope it changes some people’s bias opinions and I hope that it can positively sway some people’s thoughts,” Houston said.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Selma march and Dr. King’s birthday, cast members from the movie retraced the historic steps and marched down to the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Jan. 18.
It was a way for us to say ‘thank-you’ to the town that hosted us during the making of the movie,” Houston said. “The leadership and the residents were very hospitable. It was a pleasure filming there.”
Houston will also be participating in events March 5-8 where President Barak and First Lady Michelle Obama will be attending.
The movie was a financial boon for the town of Selma and the states of Alabama and Georgia where the film was made.
According to a forbes.com article written by Scott Mendelson, “Selma” earned $8.7 million during its second weekend and $11.5 million over MLK weekend.
Houston is proud of the positive impact “Selma” has been making.
“I took my 4-year-old son to see the movie and he’s waiting for the action figures to come out because Dr. King is his hero,” Houston said. “My father saw the movie and he’s 78 years old and it changed his thoughts. If it can change his thoughts I know it can change America. The movie should be requirement in all middle and high schools. It’s great piece of history that needs to be taught to the next generation.”
Houston will be making his first-ever visit to Pittsburgh sometime during Black History Month where he will serve as the keynote speaker at the Neighborhood Academy, a private faith-based school where graduating seniors have 100 percent college acceptance. He will discuss “Selma,” the importance of embracing diversity, and other interesting aspects of his life after playing the role of a man who was very strident in his opinion about equal rights as Sheriff Clark was. Several community leaders and businesses will be having a reception with Houston during his trip.
“Our goal is aligned with Martin Luther King’s quote, ‘when schools flourish all flourish,” said Naomi Moye, communications expert and President of Abrahams Group. Moye met with Houston and his wife during the February 2014 movie premiere in Atlanta. Moye will be accompanying Houston to Pittsburgh.
“We want the students to know that they stand on strong shoulders—white and Black—of those that come before them and to be aware of history and understand that they too have important roles in peaceful community engagement and voting.”
When Houston isn’t acting, he enjoys spending time with his family, which includes his wife and their two children, and hanging out at the beach. He is also currently working on his flourishing film career.
