"Just Mercy," by Bryan Stevenson

Introduction

Just Mercy is a memoir written by Bryan Stevenson and focuses on his experiences being a lawyer on death row. Throughout the book, Stevenson specifically follows the case of Walter McMillan but also talks about the incarceration of adolescents and the mentally disabled. The book highlights the racism against people of color in the American Justice System and the lack of humanism for the inmates on death row. Many of the people incarcerated are misunderstood and misrepresented which leads to longer sentences and sparks questions of the ethics and legal sanction of the death penalty on individuals. Bryan Stevenson challenged this system and created the EJI (Equal Justice Initiative), specifically trying to get as many inmates off death row. Steveson mission is identifying the root cause of the corrupted prison and justice system and replacing it with more honesty and kindness. Overall, Stevenson wants to show that redemption is possible and better than capital punishment. 

Author Introduction-

According to The History Makers, Bryan Steveson was born on November 14, 1959 in Delaware. As far as his education, he earned his B.A. degree in philosophy from Eastern University and later received both his M.A. and J.D. degree in public policy from Harvard University. He later worked as an intern at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia but returned back in 1985 as an attorney and played an important role in the McClesky vs. Kemp case. Stevenson soon became a director but when funding got cut in 1994, he founded the Equal Justice Initiative which was a nonprofit organization based in Montgomery, Alabama. According to his biography, “Stevenson’s work focused on eliminating the death penalty and life-without-parole sentencing for minors.” He later became a professor for NYU law school, participated in Ted Talks and made his memoir, Just Mercy, in 2014. Stevenson has won many awards which include the Olof Palme Prize, the Gruber Justice Prize from the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation, the Four Freedoms Award from the Roosevelt Institute, the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction from the American Library Association, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Nonfiction in 2015.

Plot Summary

Just Mercy follows Bryan Stevenson's journey as a lawyer challenging the death row system. Stevenson founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) specifically for those who are unable to receive a fair lawyer and representation. Throughout the book, Bryan Stevenson talks on how it was challenging to bring EJI off its knees and make it into a successful non-profit law firm. He states how it was hard to be based in such a racist community which often led to bomb threats. However, the memoir centers around the case of Walter McMillian, a black American who was wrongfully accused of killing a white woman at a laundromat. Stevenson recounts himself fighting against Alabama’s racist political and judicial system as the case was filled with lies and an unfair chance of the representation of evidence. Bryan Stevenson uncovered the ABI corruption as they had racist views on Walter which led to bribes that made sure he got the death penalty. Throughout the narration of the case, Stevenson also speaks on crimes committed by children but were given the death penalty. He focuses on the lack of humanism and remorse for these cases and how many people often judge others before ever receiving fair information about the whole ordeal. Many of the child “criminals” are misunderstood as they were raised in an abusive household, with many getting sexually assaulted. Steveonson directly challenges systematic racism and many other characters play a vital role in showing redemption and compassion.  

Conflict

In the beginning of the book we learn Bryan Stevenson's job. He is currently driving from Georgia to Alabama and back each day to take on death row cases. This is when Stevenson learns about Walter McMillian’s case. Walter was a black American who owned a successful logging business within the Alabama community. However, Walter had an affair with Karen Kelly, a white woman. Their relationship got exposed and both of them received immense backlash from the community. When Ronda Morrison was murdered, Ralph Myers, the new boyfriend of Karen, blamed it on McMillian in hopes to ease stress on his own murder case. Due to the rising animosity of the community, local authorities arrested and put Walter on death row just based on one man's testimony. Bryan decides to take on the case and fights the racial disparities that come with it. On his way home, while Stevenson was sitting outside his house when the police pulled up and started pointing guns at him. Stevenson was in shock and complied but the police ran an unlawful search of his car while also taking unnecessary force upon him. This lone event showed how common racial profiling is in the south and many same themes of racism and unlawfulness will soon come. 

In the middle of the book, Walter's case gets worse. The police had forced Myers to lie about his testimony, threatening that he would get the death penalty and never see his loved ones again. The local law enforcement also used fake evidence and witnesses to make sure Walter would be sentenced to death and actively suppressed any evidence that could prove his innocence. After EJI failed to overturn his conviction, they launched their own investigation and found other witnesses that discredited the state’s. They also learned that many of the witnesses against Walter had taken bribes as shown in the law enforcement's financial records. However, the big turning point happened when Myers decided to tell the truth as he didn't feel it was right to make an innocent man be sentenced to death on a false claim. It is important to note that during Stevesons narration of Walter, he spoke on different cases he took that involved juveniles and the mentally challenged. He showed how harsh the justice system was as many kids with intellectual disabilities, likely caused by sexual and physical abuse, had received life in prison or the death penalty. Stevenson specifically focused that many of these kids came from marginalized communities and many of them were people of color. He wanted to show the disproportionate rate of incarnation between the rich and the poor, black and white, and especially young adolescents that deserved a second chance.   

At the end of the book, with the discovery of this new evidence, EJI had one final chance to prove Walters' innocence against a very racially motivated court. The judge was easily distracted and did not give Stevenson's legal team as much attention as they deserved. However, Brayn was patient and made sure the judge was listening the whole time to really nail Walters innocence. As the evidence slowly unraveled, it was impossible for the state to defend it. A few days later, the judge declared Walters release after 6 years on death row. Stevenson and Walter still stayed close and even tried to hang out as much as possible. Walter was first eager to be free as he returned to his logging business and was grateful for Stevenson's help to set him free. Meanwhile, Brayn Stevenson was invited to international events for his efforts on death row and started to become a world renowned figure for his humanitarian work and his mission for redemption. During this time, Walters' health slowly declined due to the link of stress induced trauma from death row. This demonstrates the true mental side of being a part of death row and shows the negative effects will be permanent even after release. During Stevenson's speech, he talks about the mercy and humanism everyone needs to have and how redemption is always possible if everyone gives them a fair shot.        

Character Analysis-

One character that played a crucial role throughout the book and a vital part of Walters' testimony was Ralph Myers. Myers is first introduced as Karen Kelly’s new boyfriend after her exposed relationship with Walter. It is noted that Myers had been a negative influence on her as he exposed her into using drugs and living a degenerate lifestyle. It was not until the police caught Myers and suspected him into committing another crime which involved murder. He was the police's top suspect and they were looking for someone to target for the Morrison murder. Myers, knowing that Walter was already under heavy scrutiny from the public and used his race against him, he made a bogus story filled with flaws that put the blame on Walter. Instead of the police listening to Walter's strong alibi, he got put in jail based on Myers lone testimony. Soon before the hearing date, Myers refused to be a witness and lie in front of the court. This caused him to be put on death row which took a significant effect on his mental health. Due to this, the ABI took advantage of him and used him against Walter. This illustrates that Myers was only a pawn in the ABI’s game. Even though Myers was white, they used his vulnerable mental health to take advantage of him and use that as a benefit for their racist intentions of putting Walter in jail. Even though Myers insisted in doing the right thing, he couldn't follow through which ultimately started years of constant legal battles.

Soon before the trial,  Myers was still suffering. Right before the court hearing began, Ralph Myers decided to not testify which prompted his return to death row. Myers mental health problems returned and he was later sent to a mental hospital. Later, after Ralph got admitted out of the hospital he began to collaborate with the police and gave his testimony. Stevenson was especially surprised that the jurors believed it but realized that only one black juror was admitted from Ted Pearson. Stevenson states that Myers' story did not line up with the other witnesses and that he didn’t even know what Walter looked like before the case even started. However, the EJI soon got a call from Myers that he wanted to make things right. Myers had been going to sessions and realized that honesty will help with his self reflection and growth as a human. Myers admitted on record that his testimony was a lie and he was willing to come out and prove it. This prompted a strong investigation on the liability of the state's defense which exposed the bribes and other fake witnesses that took place for Walter to go to death row. Myers was made aware that he would face more time in prison, yet he did not care as he believed that it was his duty to make sure Walter would get off death row. Myers did not back down from his testimony and played a key role in exposing the police’s corruption and racial abuse they had on Walter. 

This specific story is extremely powerful as it proved that redemption is possible. Myers never had to come back out and admit he lied. His sentence was shortened and he was placed in a more favorable jail of his liking. Yet, Myers had self reflected and realized the wrong doings he had committed and wanted to make amends. In a way, Myers was one of the bravest characters in the book as he stepped back into the wild, unaware of his future, to make sure that another man would be free. He took accountability and attempted to heal the scars he already slashed. This is Stevenson's exact message in proving that anyone can do the right thing with stable support. Before his physicist visits, Myers was mentally unwell and unpredictable. However, after attending for years, he realized that he needs to do the right thing. In constarts, the ABI treated him like trash, which prompted a fragile relationship and his ultimate betrayal to them. Myers was strong, coming from a drug abuse addict, to lying in court, to redeeming himself and showing the true extent of compassion and moral compass of doing that right thing. His whole story followed the theme of the lack of humanism put on another human being but shows the fight through adversity and ultimately being a samaritan to save another man's life.

What I Like

Just Mercy is genuinely one of the best books I have ever read. I did a deep dive into the book in eighth grade and worked on it for months, but re-reading it now has still proven to be one of the most powerful books ever. It teaches that no matter what background someone has come from, redemption is always possible. Bryan Stevenson does an amazing job showing real life stories from a first hand perspective of redemption and the effort and kindness that must be contributed towards it. Moreover, each story Stevenson shares is heartbreaking but shows the common human nature of the deep south and creates urgency on how far racism is set in the culture. The American Justice System and the prison system are deeply corrupted, with many targeting people of color for personal economic and political gain. It's important Bryan Stevenson is able to share his message and clearly show racial bias in America. This is why I loved the book as it exposes the truth behind America's systemic laws and raises awareness for the wrongdoings.    

Recommendations

I would recommend this book to everyone but specifically young adolescents. The book has many life lessons within the many stories Stevenson shares and it shows the true state of America's Justice System in the south. It's important to understand the racial barriers present in America and many young kids will learn the privilege they possess to be an unlikely target of such a racist system. The book creates urgency within America's systemic laws and policies and it's important that everyone is aware of it so change can happen faster. One punishment, with many prejudiced views, has systematically wiped out many undeserving or innocent Americans, with many being people of color. There is still clearly racial injustice present and by reading Just Mercy, it can open up views people have never seen before.  

Conclusion

Just Mercy shows us the good and the bad within human nature. One side shows family, love and deep connection. For example, the community supporting Walter on trial was powerful and wanted to make themselves known. Specifically, the lady who faced her fears with the German Shepherd shows how deep compassion goes within a community. Also, the confederate prison guard shows that even though himself and Bryan Stevenson had their differences, he understood and valued his fight for foster children. This connection is important which shows that if people are willing to put away their differences, real bonding and connection can arise. However, the book highlighted the deeply racist culture of the deep south, specifically in Alabama. The local sheriff and ABI had created a false conspiracy against Walter just to save themselves from public criticism. This shows selfishness to the extreme as they kept a man on death row for years. Overall, the book shows that kindness is possible and people can be redeemed for their past crimes and sins. The most important step in the acceptance and support that leads to healing and recovering. People in the world need to realize that we are all humans and deserve to be treated fairly among one another.