Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a powerful critique of the U.S. criminal justice system, highlighting its racism, class biases, and frequent wrongful convictions. The book tells the story of Walter McMillian, a black man wrongly convicted and sentenced to death for dating a white woman, and the relentless efforts of Stevenson to free him.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a compelling and harrowing account of the flaws in the U.S. criminal justice system. The book focuses on the case of Walter McMillian, a black man who was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in Alabama for a crime he did not commit. Stevenson, a dedicated lawyer, takes on McMillian's case and exposes the systemic racism and injustice that led to his conviction. The book also delves into the broader issues of wrongful convictions, the death penalty, and the treatment of children in the justice system. Stevenson's work is a testament to the perseverance and compassion needed to fight against such deep-seated injustices. The narrative is both enlightening and disturbing, shedding light on the urgent need for reform in the criminal justice system.
Quick quotes
It is no longer reasonably debatable that our inefficient, expensive, broken, racist, criminal justice bureaucracy wrongfully condemns and executes the wholly innocent.
Mr. McMillian, … did not have a history of violence, but he was well known in town for something else. Mr. McMillian, … was dating a white woman.
This is no ordinary case of the wrongful conviction of a black man on death row (the fact that such cases remain all too ordinary is a penetrating indictment of our criminal justice system).