Just Mercy

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

My husband (Ryan) & listened to this 11 hour and 5-minute book on Audible, narrated by the author Bryan Stevenson. We extended road trips just to listen as chapters transition to tell the stories of wrongly accused death row inmates, the legacy of lynching, systemic racial injustices, incarceration of children, and the creation of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). The mass incarceration of individuals in the U.S. & the particular cases of those individuals discussed in the book is often infuriating, heartbreaking, and at times, seemingly hopeless. But Stevenson writes (and speaks) with such care, humility, & passion, that these weighty issues of injustices are humanized. These people & their stories are a tangible representation of the injustices of our legal system, but Stevenson & EJI has been doing the work for decades—which means this book is not lacking in hopefulness. Although I am cautious about the words “inspiration” and “hope” without considering the white privilege that allows so many of us (white folks) to be ignorant of these larger systemic issues, the book gives humanity to those that the rest of society has seemingly written off and demonstrates how actual changes can and are being made, despite numerous setbacks.

Just Mercy consistently follows the story of Walter McMillian, a Black man on death row for the murder of a white woman in Alabama which he did not commit. Stevenson, a law student at that time, candidly recalls his first meeting with Walter on death row. He is apologetic that he can only tell Walter that his execution will not happen in the next year, but Walter is grateful. Thus begins Stevenson’s advocacy for Walter McMillian which is a complex & painful journey that generates tension in the story of our legal system in alternating chapters, always keeping us on the edge of our seats worrying about whether justice will ever be achieved.

The book is equally about the life of Bryan Stevenson, who is by all accounts an impressive person. According to the EJI website, “Bryan Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Stevenson is a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned…” His incredible & tireless work is reflected throughout Just Mercy, but he is willing to be vulnerable & share his doubts which makes him all the more human. He tenderly recalls conversations between himself & Walter & other condemned individuals throughout the book. There is also the chapter of heart-wrenching goodbyes to Herbert Duncan, a Vietnam war veteran with mental health issues condemned to death. Stevenson & the family hum “The Old Rugged Cross” & the music plays per Duncan’s request as he walks to the electric chair. No matter the outcomes of Stevenson’s cases, he remains a fierce advocate for the individuals he serves.

One of our favorite pieces of the book is when Bryan Stevenson is invited to “listen” on the stoop, while civil rights advocates Johnnie Carr, Virginia Durr, and Rosa Parks sat & told stories. After Stevenson is asked to explain what he does, Ms. Parks laughs & says to him, “Ooh, honey, all that’s going to make you tired, tired, tired.” Ms. Carr gets close to Stevenson & adds, “That’s why you’ve got to be brave, brave, brave.”

There are many lessons in Just Mercy & actions to take beyond educating ourselves.

“Proximity has taught me some basic and humbling truths, including this vital lesson: Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. My work with the poor and the incarcerated has persuaded me that the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice. Finally, I’ve come to believe that the true measure of our commitment to justice, the character of our society, our commitment to the rule of law, fairness, and equality cannot be measured by how we treat the rich, the powerful, the privileged, and the respected among us. The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned.”