JUST MERCY ESSAY SELF-ANALYSIS

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a book about a lawyer fighting for justice in Alabama

in the 1980’s. This book is an amazing symbol of the fight for equality, this book holds lots of

power. One of the many themes of the book is systematic oppression. To begin with the

McMillan case, they could not prove he did it. Secondly the cops illegally searching Mr.

Stevenson’s car, thinking he was a thief for no reason other than his skin color. And finally the

unfair punishment of 14 year old Trina Garnett, a mentally ill girl who accidentally killed two

boys after being abused and abandoned for years.

To begin with Walter McMillan’s case is an amazing example of systematic oppression

because they could not provide enough evidence to prove it was McMillan yet he was still sent to

life on death row. On the first trial the jury was made up of mainly white representatives. The

officers found Ralph Myers and made him accuse McMillan of the crime even though he had no

idea who he was. It was said that McMillan’s low rider was seen at the crime scene but Walter

McMillan’s truck was not altered yet. Clay Kast was the man who altered Walter McMillan’s

truck mentioned the truck being altered in May 1987 the murder was in November 1986. “The

white mechanic testified that Mr. McMillan’s truck was not a lowrider in November 1986 when

Ronda Morrison was murdered.” (Stevenson 148). The people of McMillan’s city failed to

realize the lack of evidence. They only cared about putting someone behind bars, it helped that

McMillan was black because he has already been oppressed. Alabama was still very racist in the

1980’s.

In chapter two of Just Mercy Bryan is outside his home in his car listening to music. He

is approached by white police officers in a not so comforting way. Mr. Stevenson beings to calm

himself down. In the book he repeats “I’m okay, I’m okay”. The police officers begin to illegally
search his car. While this was going on an old white woman shouts “Ask him about my radio and

my vacuum cleaner!” (Stevenson 40). Nothing was found in the car and its stated that they

questioned him because of a suspected burglar. They had no reason to believe it was Mr.

Stevenson other than the color of his skin. The old white woman who saw this happening asking

about her missing things also feeds into the theme of oppression because she didn’t ask about

these things until the incedident.

Finally the case of Trina Garnett. Trina was a little girl when her life began to take some

dark turns. She was abused and lived on and off the streets almost her entire life. One mistake

ruined her life forever. While it is true, she did murder two boys in the house that night it was

still an accident. It is true she should serve time for the lives lost that night, but she was

condemned to die in prison and was tried as an adult. She was a young girl when this happened.

She was being reckless and messing around like kids do. She was also very mentally ill from all

the trauma she was put through as a child and all throughout her life. She was charged with

second degree murder and burglary. “Typically, second-degree murder is defined as murder that

is not premeditated, or murder that is caused by the offender's reckless conduct that displays an

obvious lack of concern for human life.” (Cornell law school) While it is true she did recklessly

killed two boys she had a concern for human life and was mentally disabled. She also didn’t

enter the house to steal anything and did not leave that night with anything more than guilt. The

usual time served for 2nd degree murder is 4-20 years in prison. Trina was charged with life. She

was black and mentally ill. She was showed no mercy, along with many people in the book.

when one considers the case of Walter McMillan being charged with racism, Mr.

Stevenson being suspected for burglary just by sitting in his car listening to the radio and The

unfair case of the mentally ill Trina Garnett, it’s clear that this story is trying to show people all
over the world the amount of systematic oppression in the United states justice system. This

book shows the change the justice system needs. Society needs to address these problems so we

can continue to work towards equality and to have one nation safe for every race, sexuality, and

mentally ill or challenged human. The book shows more than these three unfair situations. This

book is the beginning of the movement needed.

Next time on my essay I will

1. Add more evidence and citations

2. At least two examples each paragraph