The Sisters of Selma: Bearing Witness for Change is a powerful documentary created by Jayasri Majumdar Hart, which aired on PBS in 2007. While the story of the Selma marches is well-known, this film offers a unique perspective by focusing on the courageous Catholic nuns who participated in the historic 1965 marches alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists. These sisters, often overlooked in mainstream narratives, played a pivotal role in the fight for equal voting rights in the United States.
The documentary draws from archival footage owned by the Carondelet Consolidated Archives, the official repository for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. This footage, some of which was not included in the final documentary, provides a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes efforts of the sisters and other activists during the Selma marches. Researchers and history enthusiasts can access this archival material for free on this website. For more information about the Carondelet Consolidated Archives, visit www.csjcarondelet.org.
Sisters of Selma: Bearing Witness for Change (2007) Trailer
Please note: This website is currently under development, and additional archival materials and resources will be added over time.
Historical Background
The Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965 were a turning point in the American civil rights movement. The events unfolded in the wake of Bloody Sunday, a brutal assault on peaceful protesters by police and state troopers on March 7, 1965. Hundreds were injured, and the violence was captured in photographs and film footage that shocked the nation. These images, broadcast across the country, galvanized public support for the civil rights movement and pressured the federal government to take action.
In response to the violence, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. issued a call to religious leaders across the nation to join the march. John Lewis emphasized the moral imperative of standing up for justice, stating:
“I don’t see how President Johnson can send troops to Vietnam—I don’t see how he can send troops to the Congo—I don’t see how he can send troops to Africa and can’t send troops to Selma.”
John Lewis
Cardinal Joseph Ritter of St. Louis answered this call, mobilizing the St. Louis Human Rights Commission to organize a delegation. Among the approximately 50 volunteers were six Catholic sisters: two Sisters of Loretto, two Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and two Franciscan Sisters of Mary. Their participation was a bold statement of solidarity with the African American community.
The trip was made possible by Charles Vatterot, a St. Louis businessman who provided planes for the volunteers. Vatterot also brought a suitcase containing $20,000 in cash to be used as bail money, anticipating the possibility of arrests during the march. This level of preparation and commitment underscores the high stakes and dangers faced by those who participated in the Selma marches.
The Role of the Sisters
Photograph of S. Rosemary Flanigan and S. Roberta Schmidt on their way to Selma from St. Louis by Richard Finke in 1965. Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis Archives.
The Catholic sisters who marched in Selma in 1965 were not only driven by their faith and commitment to social justice—they were also making history. Their participation marked the first time Catholic sisters engaged in public protest on such a visible scale. This was a bold departure from the traditional expectations of religious life, which often confined sisters to the walls of their convents and limited their involvement in public affairs.
This historic moment occurred at a pivotal time for the Catholic Church. Just one year after the Selma marches, the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) introduced sweeping changes to Catholic practice, including reforms that allowed sisters to modernize their clothing, engage more directly with the world, and take on new roles in education, healthcare, and social justice. The sisters’ participation in Selma foreshadowed these changes.
Their actions also challenged the broader Catholic community to confront racial injustice. At a time when many white Americans, including some Catholics, were indifferent or opposed to the civil rights movement, the sisters’ presence in Selma sent a clear message: the Church could not remain silent in the face of inequality. Their courage inspired other Catholics—both laypeople and clergy—to take a stand for justice.
However, the sisters’ involvement in Selma was not without risk. The march took place in the shadow of immense violence and tragedy. The day before the sisters went to Selma, Reverend James Joseph Reeb, a white Unitarian minister, had been brutally attacked by white supremacists in Selma and died on March 11 from his injuries. Before that, Jimmy Lee Jackson, a young Black civil rights activist, was shot and killed by an Alabama state trooper during a peaceful protest in Marion while trying to protect his grandfather and mother from state troopers. The sisters faced the same dangers as other marchers, including the threat of violence and arrest. For the sisters of color, the risks were even greater. They faced not only the threat of violence from segregationists but also the added burden of racial discrimination within their own communities and institutions. Yet, their faith compelled them to act; they knew that the fight for justice often requires stepping into the unknown.
Archival Footage and Untold Stories
The archival footage and images available on this website offer a closer look into the events of the Selma marches and the filmmaking process behind Sisters of Selma: Bearing Witness for Change. While the documentary highlights many stories of the sisters’ contributions, much of the footage was not included in the final cut. These unseen clips reveal additional stories that deserve to be shared. It also provides a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges faced by the filmmakers in documenting this pivotal moment in history. By making additional footage available, we hope to preserve and honor the full scope of the sisters’ legacy.
Statement on Harmful Content
Materials on this website and in the Sisters of Selma archival collection may contain some content that may be harmful or difficult to view. These materials are evidence of the time in which the originals were created and may contain language and images that are racist, homophobic, sexist, ableist, violent, or otherwise derogatory and insensitive. The Carondelet Consolidated Archives presents these materials as part of the historic record.
Explore the Archives
We invite you to explore the archival footage and resources available on this website. Whether you are a researcher, educator, or history enthusiast, these materials offer a unique window into the Selma marches and the courageous women who participated in them. As the site continues to develop, we will add more content, including interviews, photographs, and educational resources.
Get Involved
If you have additional information, stories, or materials related to the Sisters of Selma or the Selma marches, we would love to hear from you. Your contributions and stories can help us build a more comprehensive and inclusive archive. Please use the contact form below to share your insights or resources.
![Pettus, Peter, photographer. The civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in
. Selma Alabama, 1999. [or 2000 from a Photograph Taken in 1965] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2003675346/.](https://i0.wp.com/sistersofselma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Selma_to_Montgomery_Marches_protesters.jpg?resize=640%2C435&ssl=1)
