Title: Just Mercy
Author: Bryan Stevenson
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Link to book: Just Mercy
This was a brilliant one. Stevenson is an extremely well-articulate, charismatic and powerful storyteller. If you have doubts, just watch his TED talk here. The book delves into the flaws within the American justice system, particularly regarding racial inequality and the treatment of the poor. Published in 2014, this memoir recounts Stevenson’s experiences as a young lawyer. Subsequently, he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, an organization dedicated to defending those who have been wrongly condemned or unfairly sentenced. His pursuit of justice is so inspiring and makes you believe in humanity again. I am just in awe of what he and his team do, every single day.
Stevenson exposes the deep-seated issues of racial bias, inadequate legal representation, and systemic injustice that plague the American legal system. The narrative centers around Stevenson’s representation of Walter McMillian, a black man wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Alabama. This forms the main plot of the movie Just Mercy (2019), where Michael B. Jordan plays Stevenson and Jamie Foxx plays McMillian. It should be noted, it is also a sublime movie that made me bawl my eyes out. In addition to those inmates in the movie, the book cites many other cases that could be their own movies. Personally, the story that really touched my heart was Avery Jenkins, the mentally-ill death row inmate who loves chocolate milkshakes.
The book prompts readers to question their preconceptions about guilt and innocence. Furthermore, it challenges them to confront the uncomfortable truths about race and class disparities within the criminal justice system. Stevenson argues passionately for the need to reform a system that disproportionately affects marginalized communities and often fails to provide fair and equal justice.
However, this book is not just a critique of the American justice system. It also serves as a testament to the power of compassion, perseverance, and the belief in the inherent dignity of every individual. If you don’t have time to read it, listen to the Audiobook version narrated by Stevenson himself!
All in all, this was incredibly insightful, well-written, and inspiring memoir. Truly, it put things into perspective and makes you actually want to be a better person.
“The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned.”