This book laid bare the injustices of mass incarceration and extreme punishment.
Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer who recounted the events of his fight to save Walter McMillian from the death penalty. The blatant abuse of power by the judicial system was outrageous and infuriating. I read with awe the author's ability to remain professional and composed in the face of racism, corruption, and cruelty.
Interspersed with Walter McMillian's story, glimpses of other cases were presented, too, including those that exposed the horrifying abuse suffered by children in adult jails. In this book, Stevenson spoke for all the vulnerable people who are most harmed by the injustices of the judicial system, not just black and brown people, but also children, women, poor people, victims of abuse, and people with mental illness.
Occasionally, Stevenson took a step back from his cases to elaborate on the history of race in America, providing context for understanding how contemporary issues of injustice are rooted in the American institutions of slavery, segregation, and mass incarceration.
The author also opened up about his own experiences. He knew first-hand the struggles of growing up poor and black in a rural area, and being a Yale-educated lawyer was no protection from being racially profiled.
While many of the events described in this book were disturbing and disheartening, there were also glimmers of hope in the selfless, altruistic acts of those who provided help and support to the people who needed it. Of course the author himself is an incredible inspiration, but he also wrote about others he met during the course of his cases.
An important read for all Americans, so that we may truly understand the realities of our judicial system.
No comments:
Post a Comment