In 1965, during the turbulent early days of the right-to-vote movement, a young Alabama schoolgirl (Smollett) is inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Powell) to resist the degradation that her fellow African Americans are suffering. Along with a White seminary student (Astin) from the North, and against the ever-increasing threat of racial violence, she promises to do what she can to help Dr. King's efforts.