2020
Just Mercy
A Story of Justice and Redemption
by Bryan Stevenson
Event Guide
Discussion Questions for Just Mercy 1. Stevenson’s grandmother told him, “You can’t understand most of the important things from a distance, Bryan. You have to get close.” How do we see the author getting close to issues of punishment and mass incarceration throughout the book? How does getting close to Walter affect his life? 2. Stevenson came to believe that “the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice.” How do you see poverty affecting people’s lives in Just Mercy? Have Stevenson’s experiences influenced your own definition of justice? 3. As you read the book, what were your reactions to descriptions of the criminal justice system? Why does the author compare his own brokenness to the brokenness of the system? Do you believe that broken people can be healed? 4. Stevenson writes that there are four primary institutions that shape the conversation around race and justice today: slavery, racial terror and the threat of violence against people of color, Jim Crow laws that legalized segregation, and mass incarceration. How do you see these institutions affecting cases throughout the book? 5. Were you surprised by the prevalence of improper legal representation in the cases profiled in Just Mercy? What factors do you believe should influence jury selection? What reforms, if any, do you believe should be made to the legal system? 6. Should people with claims of innocence have their cases reviewed in a timelier manner? Should victims’ family members be involved in the review of innocence cases? Do you believe our legal system operates under the principle of innocent until proven guilty? 7. What challenges do you think formerly incarcerated people face when they reenter their community? What support do you believe the government should grant former prisoners? Once proven innocent, do you believe an exoneree should receive compensation? 8. Do you agree with Stevenson that punishments for children are “intense and reactionary?” Should all juvenile offenders sentenced to life without parole be eligible for a new sentencing hearing? How should families of victims murdered by juveniles be involved in sentencing hearings? 9. Prisoners are often subjected to violence and have an increased risk of suicide. What protections should exist for incarcerated people? Do you believe that putting someone in uninterrupted solitary confinement for 18 years, as we read in the case of Ian Manuel, is ever warranted? 10. Why is mental illness often ignored at trial? Do you believe mentally ill people convicted of crimes should receive different treatment? 11. How do you believe victims’ family members should be involved in legal cases? How do you see the government acting on behalf of victims in the book? 12. What factors prevent mitigating evidence from being presented at trial? Do you believe Richardson’s sentence would have been different if evidence was presented on his history of abuse, mental illness, PTSD, and military service? 13. Before Richardson’s execution, officers at Holman Prison were helpful and attentive to his requests. Stevenson asks, “Where were these people when he really needed them?” What support do you believe Richardson should have received while he was struggling with childhood sexual abuse, PTSD, and disability? What does this say about the function of prisons today? What do you think the role of prisons should be? 14. Stevenson notes the influence of several books that informed his own opinions about justice. How did these books impact him? 15. What factors lead to an increase in felony charges for nonviolent offenses? Do you think race and class affect sentencing for nonviolent offenses? 16. What did Stevenson struggle with and what kept him from quitting as he “beat the drum for justice?” 17. In the epilogue, Stevenson writes, “The real question of capital punishment in this country is, do we deserve to kill?” What was your opinion about capital punishment prior to reading this book? Did reading Just Mercy change your opinion about whether or not the United States has the right to execute its citizens?
One Book Northland Events Events are free and open to the public
Check your local library for screenings of the movie Just Mercy this April and May.
Cloquet
A Life Informed by Lynching Date: April 21 Time: 2 pm Place: City Hall, 101 14th Street, Cloquet Details: Author Michael Fedo will talk about his book, The Lynchings in Duluth, what drew him to research and write this book, and the impact it’s had on him.
Duluth One Book Northland Opening Event
Date: March 24 Time: 7 pm Place: UMD Kathryn A. Martin Library 4th Floor Rotunda Details: Join us as Jordon Moses, CJMM coordinator, explains the concept that inspired CJMM to plan events recognizing the 100 years since the lynching of three innocent Black men in Duluth on June 15, 1920. Learn what is planned in the community and how and why you should participate.
Life and Freedom on Death Row with Anthony Ray Hinton Date: March 26 Time: 7:30 pm Place: College of St. Scholastica, Mitchell Auditorium Details: Anthony Ray Hinton is the survivor of a nearly 30-year sentence on death row on a wrongful conviction, and will speak about his time in legal limbo.
Authors Event to Support CJMM 2020 Commemoration
Date: March 29 Time: 2 pm Place: Zenith Bookstore Details: A panel discussion with Michael Fedo and Warren Reed, authors of The lynchings in Duluth and The lyncher in me, respectively. They will be joined by a member of CJMM, Inc., who will provide event details for the 2020 Commemoration.
DPL Book Group Discussion Date: April 16 Time: 6:30 pm Place: Main Library Gold Room A Life Informed by Lynching
Date: April 20 Time: 6:30 pm Place: Fitger’s Spirit of the North Theater
Details: Author Michael Fedo will talk about his book, The Lynchings in Duluth, what drew him to research and write this book, and the impact it’s had on him.
Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity
Date: April 30 Time: 6 pm Place: Main Library Green Room Details: Film and discussion facilitated by Kevin Skwira-Brown with Cultural Fluency Associates LLP.
Innocence Project of Minnesota
Date: May 4 Time: 6:30 pm Place: Main Library Green Room Details: Hosted by Sara Jones. Did you know Minnesota has its own Innocence Project? They work to free the wrongfully convicted and prevent future wrongful convictions from occurring in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Join us to hear about this important and interesting work.
Zenith Bookclub Discussion
Date: May 5 Time: 6 pm Place: Zenith Bookstore
Movie: Healing Justice
Date: May 14 Time: 6 pm Place: Main Library Green Room Details: Healing Justice movie and discussion facilitated by Lucas Alan Dietsche, Regional Coordinator with North Save the Kids.
Superior SPL Book Club Dates and Times: April 7 at 10:30 am and May 27 at 6 pm Place: Superior Public Library Details: Discussion of the book Just Mercy. Poetry Reading Date: April 13 Time: 7 pm Place: Superior Public Library Details: Poetry reading hosted by Poetry Behind the Walls Procurement Editor, Lucas Alan Dietsche. He and others will read poems written by incarcerated and system-involved youth. Poetry Behind Walls is a project of Save the Kids and an ongoing book series that provides a medium for systeminvolved youth to express and encourage themselves through poetry. A Life Informed by Lynching Date: April 20 Time: 4 pm Place: Superior Public Library Details: Author Michael Fedo will talk about his book, The Lynchings in Duluth, what drew him to research and write this book, and the impact it’s had on him. Documentary: 13th Date: May 13 Time: 6 pm Place: Superior Public Library Details: Filmmaker Ava DuVernay explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation’s prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans.
Two Harbors Book Club Discussions Dates and Times: March 9 at 6:30 pm and March 19 at 1 pm Place: Two Harbors Public Library Details: Discussion of the book Just Mercy A Life Informed by Lynching Date: April 1 Time: 6 pm Place: Two Harbors Public Library Details: Author Michael Fedo will talk about his book, The Lynchings in Duluth, what drew him to research and write this book, and the impact it’s had on him. Innocence Project of Minnesota Date: May 4 Time: 3 pm Place: Two Harbors Public Library Details: Hosted by Sara Jones. Did you know Minnesota has its own Innocence Project? They work to free the wrongfully convicted and prevent future wrongful convictions from occurring in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Join us to hear about this important and interesting work.
Educators: Barnes & Noble is donating 50 copies of the
Young Readers adaptation of Just Mercy for a Book in a Bag program. This program loans bundles of 5-7 books for student book clubs or “Lit groups.” If you would like to participate, contact Shari Illig (crm2098@ bn.com, 218-786-0714) for details. Limited number of copies available. Participating educators will be entered into a drawing to receive one of the book bundles to keep.
Clayton Jackson McGhie Day of Remembrance with author Bryan Stevenson
Date: June 15 Time: 6 pm Place: Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial Intersection of E 1st St and N 2nd Ave E, Duluth Details: The entire community is invited to the intersection of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial and in the surrounding streets for keynote speaker Bryan Stevenson. Welcome him to our community, honor the three men, and acknowledge our history.
About the Book After graduating from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned, with the support of local advocate, Eva Ansley. One of his first cases is that of Walter McMillian, who was sentenced to die for the murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite evidence proving his innocence. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds and the system stacked against them.
About the Author Bryan Stevenson is the executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, and a professor of law at New York University Law School. He has won relief for dozens of condemned prisoners, argued five times before the Supreme Court, and won national acclaim for his work challenging bias against the poor and people of color. He has received numerous awards, including the MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant.”
TWO HARBORS
PUBLIC LIBRARY
The One Book Northland committee includes representatives from the community: Duluth Public Library, Cloquet Public Library, Superior Public Library, Two Harbors Public Library, Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, University of Minnesota Duluth, the College of St. Scholastica, North Save the Kids, Barnes & Noble, Bookstore at Fitger’s, and Zenith Bookstore.