Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy is a powerful memoir that brings light to the issues within the American criminal justice system. The book tells the story of Stevenson’s journey as a young lawyer defending marginalized and wrongfully convicted individuals on Death Row. The main issue of the story is about Walter McMillian, a Black man sentenced to death for a murder he didn’t commit. Through his determination to fight through the race barrier, Stevenson brings out the corruption, and bias that led to McMillian’s wrongful conviction. This book is an appeal for reform. It is an important read for anyone interested in social justice. Stevenson’s story is educational and leaves readers with a lasting impact.
Opening Line: “The temporary receptionist was an elegant African American woman wearing a dark, expensive business suit – a well-dressed exception to the usual crowd at the Southern Prisoners Defense Committee (SPDC) in Atlanta, where I had returned after graduation to work full time” (Stevenson 1)
Favorite Line: “The power of just mercy is that it belongs to the undeserving. “It’s when mercy is least expected that it’s most potent strong enough to break the cycle of victimization and victimhood, retribution and suffering.” (Stevenson 294)
Why I Like It: This book gave me a firsthand view of what it was like to be an African-American in the 1980s. The problem of Death Row inmates being disproportionately black blew my mind and shed light on issues that the school system barely touches on. This book compelled me to research other issues that I may not know much about so that I can be more aware of people’s backgrounds.
Read If You Like: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton, and Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman Jr.