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Andrea Gonzalez

Doctor Morgan

LEAD CTW: 1A

22 October 2019

The Solution to Today’s History: Just Mercy

Our present is an altered version of our past. This is no different, for the events that lead

to the creation of this essay did not occur today. These events lie in the creation of the

institutions and how they took shape through their influence on other people’s lives. This is our

history, and it plays a big role in setting the precedent that stands today.

Bryan Stevenson’s memoir, ​Just Mercy​, discusses the faulty US justice system in the 21st

century by sharing his experience as an activist lawyer. He intertwines what he learns through his

cases with his own story that’s also filled with numerous struggles to continue doing his part in

defending his clients. In doing so, Bryan Stevenson’s​ Just Mercy ​presents the idea of historical

precedent ​through the corruption of its money-based justice system and how it furthers the

marginalization of minorities. The book then operates as a call to action by advocating for a

more compassionate perspective to the most “broken” in our society.

Stevenson’s credibility plays a big part in the novel ​Just Mercy​ because the audience is

following his character’s development. Initially we only know that he’s a college student

struggling with finding purpose with his education. He establishes relatability with his intended

audience, a younger demographic, by showing that he can empathize with the “lost” feeling

that’s common among young adults before they enter the workforce.
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Stevenson also intentionally mention that he’s African American until Chapter 2, well

after he’s established his identity as a knowledgeable lawyer. However, that doesn’t mean that

Stevenson being African American isn’t an important part of his identity, as the story makes

clear. “He was conducting an illegal search … ‘We are going to let you go. You should be

happy,’ he said … ‘I didn’t feel vindicate,’” (Stevenson 41, 42, 44). This anecdote is the first

time the audience can empathize with another part of Stevenson’s character while simultaneously

making him a more credible source for defending marginalized convicts. However, his first

introduction to the audience as a Harvard student, so he’s less likely to draw anyone’s initial

biases.

Then there’s the dedication that Stevenson has to his work. Throughout the novel he

shares the struggles of starting the company: finding staff, money, and time. The audience is

aware of the all encompassing amount of cases that span all marginalized groups by the time

they near the end of the novel.

However it’s not until Chapter 16 that the reality makes itself painfully real. In this

chapter Rosa Parks asks him, “...what [he’s] doing?” his response is, “stop the death penalty …

end unfair sentences … stop racial bias … help the poor … poverty [in] poor communities …

diversity in decision making roles… educate people… confront abuse of power,” (pg 292-293).

The scope of how much Stevenson is trying to do to solve some of the world’s largest issues,

solidifies the moral ambition of his character.

Throughout the novel ​Just Mercy​ Stevenson explains where the historical precedent that

affect current laws comes from ​by introducing the framework of society in the past. There’s an

abundance of short anecdotes that follow this format. Cases like those from Chapter 14, where
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kids like Joe Sullivan who are sentenced to life without parole, that’s driven by the misguided

idea that children can be tried as adults (pg 267). These out-dated societal beliefs that are riddled

in the historical precedent, and affect the sentencing of the suspects, proves that the justice

system is not impartial.

On a similar note today’s capitalistic society corrupts the very notion of a fair trial.

Virtually everyone knows the saying, “Money makes the world go round” and it applies to the

courtroom. One example is George Daniel, who after suffering a car accident became mentally

ill and accidentally shot a police officer. “[George’s mother] authorized the lawyers to obtain the

unclaimed check in the hope that they could present it at the trial … The lawyers, who were still

bickering over the money, cashed the check to pay themselves instead of using it as evidence,”

(Stevenson 191). Through anecdotes, Stevenson makes the explicit argument that the justice

system’s corrupt nature mainly affects those in poverty. Stevenson also brings up the even worse

fact that most people don’t even get legitimate legal representation in court and in prison. This is

true for Joe Sullivan who had no legal representation for the first 18 years in prison (Stevenson

259). For Ian whose lawyer who ill-advised him to plead guilty and was sentenced to life without

parole (Stevenson 152). For Avery Jenkins whose lawyers did no investigation on his mental

background and was subsequently sentenced to death row (Stevenson 197-198). The common

thread in these stories is that their economic status affected their sentences. What’s worse is that

our capitalist society has managed to make it profitable to open prisons.

Thus people are more inclined to keep people in said prisons for profit. “Between 1990

and 2005, a new prison was open in the United States every ten days. … imprisonment [was] so

profitable that millions of dollars were spent lobbying legislators to keep expanding the use of
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incarceration,” (Stevenson 260). These statements demonstrate that there’s incentive and

pressure to incarcerate people for longer periods of time. It’s then logical to see that it’s virtually

impossible for the current US system to have a fair justice system for the marginalized

minorities. Proving Paul Van Der Merwe’s actual saying, “Money makes the world go round;

however, happiness greases the axle. Without this lubricant, life will seize.”

We see how historical precedent no longer applies to the beliefs of present society while

also depicting how modern day corruption has made the situation worse for the oppressed

because the inherently faulty historical precedent is riddled with society’s old biases. The

marginalized minorities are thus subjected to a corrupt system that benefits from their

incarceration.

What connects the historical biases and current corruption of the US’ capitalist system is

the people who are suffering the consequences of these injustices: everyone. The straight forward

history that’s presented intertwines and juxtaposes the real situations that the marginalized

minorities who are tried and convicted live. It’s the anecdotes that regular citizens don’t

normally have access to that makes the most impact. “‘Six years, six years gone.’ He looked

away with a pained expression. ‘... I’ve been so worried they were going to kill me. I haven’t

even thought about the time I lost,’” (​Stevenson​ 220). This was the case for Walter, who after

finally being freed realized how much his life was changed due to his time spent in prison. A lot

of other soul-stirring moments occur the innocent are affected. Trina’s case was especially

heartbreaking because the judge could not take into account, “Trina’s age, mental illness,

poverty, abuse she has suffered, or the tragic circumstances,” or lack of intent to kill during her

sentencing “… ‘This is the saddest case I’ve ever seen,’ he wrote,” (​Stevenson​ 150). It’s the fact
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that these people weren’t given a second chance. Joe Sullivan, a 13-year-old child stuck in a

31-year-old man’s body, who’s mental and physical disabilities rendered him defenseless in

prison. “‘Okay, my last question is the most important,’ … ‘Who is your favorite cartoon

character?’ He was beaming when he looked at me. ‘Please, tell the truth. I really want to

know,’” (​Stevenson ​263). All of these inherently marginalized minorities bring out a deeper

sense of protection for the innocent. It’s that primal defense that’s triggered that makes the

corruption evident.

Yet it’s not just the marginalized minorities that are affected from the injustices of the

United State’s justice system. People like Avery Jenkin’s guard who was also scarred from his

foster care experience and he took his hatred out on people in prison while also suffering

(​Stevenson ​201). This example shows that the broken are everywhere and that everyone benefits

from unwarranted kindness. One of the most critical instances of everyone being affected by

injustices is Herbert’s execution. “Everyone I saw at the prison seemed surrounded by a cloud of

regret and remorse,” (​Stevenson​ 90). This paints a picture of what happens when people are

mistreated. Most people have empathy that leads them to want to do good by other people and

that’s what Stevenson plays on in order to build his case. The US’ corrupt justice system

negatively affects everyone.

Bryan Stevenson’s ​Just Mercy,​ after establishing a credible narrator, presents the idea of

historical precedent by showing us the logical progression of where they originate and ties it with

the corrupt capitalist justice system. The injustice of both are put into perspective through the

painfully descriptive anecdotes of the condemned. Stevenson throughout the entire novel

advocates that people are better off when the most broken in our society and treated with
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unmerited mercy and reconciliation. Our history, although important to our present legal system,

should not be the defining factor when it comes to dictating the lives of present day people.
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Work Cited:

STEVENSON, BRYAN. ​JUST MERCY: a Story of Justice and Redemption.​ SCRIBE

PUBLICATIONS, 2020.