Just Mercy is the personal account of Bryan Stevenson's career as, essentially, guardian (more specifically, legal aid) of those discriminated against by the law. At the beginning, readers are briefly briefed on his background and we learn his motivations for undertaking this area of ​​study. I found it strangely endearing that his grandmother was one of the main reasons he found his interest: she constantly educated him about the fight for equality, as we learn that she was the daughter of slaves in Virginia. I knew right away that this book would have a big impact, as Stevenson has a very personal account of the issue. The fact that he cared so deeply for his grandmother obviously played an important role in his empathy for victims of unjust incarceration and for victims of discrimination in general. The main point that Stevenson communicates throughout the book is the fact that there is a problem with the American justice system. He believed it vilified some marginalized groups, such as African Americans, while barely punishing others, such as whites. From the stories he describes, it's hard not to feel the same way. While this is the reminder of many pain-filled stories, I have found solace in the fact that they stem from a greater good. Stevenson was able to meet all these people through the founding of the Equal Justice Initiative that he started with his friend Eva Ansley in Alabama. The program was what allowed Stevenson to speak on behalf of all these men and women victimized by the justice system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay There is an assortment of “victims” he uses as examples throughout the book, all falsely convicted of their crimes or simply harshly punished. One person's story, however, is the central story told in the book, and it takes about half the book to tell it alone. Walter McMillian was a black man accused of killing a white woman, Vickie Pittman. We learn that Walter is something of an "American Dream" story: he was born into a poor family but ultimately became very successful as an adult. I think that's part of what makes McMillian's story so compelling to me; he had overcome all the adversity he faced as a child growing up in these conditions, and still ended up being treated unfairly by the legal system. Ralph Myer's story was completely contradictory to McMillian's: in fact, he is the man who created the false accusation of having sent McMillian to death row. I found his story very difficult to understand emotionally because part of me despised him for almost ending another man's life so easily. However, as I continued reading, I began to feel more and more empathy for him. After learning how environmental interactions can influence adult behaviors, I couldn't help but almost sympathize with Myer. He was born into a low socioeconomic family and suffers from psychological problems resulting from past trauma. He is also initially convicted of Miss Pittman's murder, and that's when he falsely accuses McMillian of it. I start to feel empathy for him once I realize how much he tries to take back his statement. I have always been a firm believer in giving people the grace to make up for their mistakes, no matter how bad they may seem. I became so frustrated reading how difficult it was for Myers to, in essence, do the right thing! For me, this is where the evidence of this racial disparity in the system really emerged. It seemed that the,.