movie review JUST MERCY

By Karly Eichenauer

In late 2019, a movie following a young lawyer named Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy, was released. I would strongly recommend either watching the movie or reading the book (by the same title) as a summertime or social-distancing activity. Stevenson, fresh out of Harvard Law School, headed south to Alabama. He started The Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization that provided free counsel to death row inmates. His goal was simple: remove men and women from death row who have been placed there unfairly - often due to race, an unjust trial, or a judge’s overruling of a jury. Stevenson found his passion through an internship working with death row inmates. In an opening scene of the movie, Stevenson lost himself in a conversation with an inmate, as he found out they shared a very similar upbringing. As the inmate was “roughed up” and dragged out of the room, the inmate started singing a gospel hymn, undaunted by his surroundings. In that moment, Stevenson reflected, “I knew I wanted to help condemned people get to higher ground. And I knew that my journey to higher ground was tied to theirs.”

As I watched the movie, I could not help but reflect on how Stevenson embodies the theme of NYAC 2020, “Love in Action.” Stevenson’s work was a labor of love. He gave of himself, through long days and nights without charge, to help his clients. He asked nothing in return. He remembered his neighbors who had been forgotten and loved them without question. He forgave those who were quick to judge and/or contributed to a racist society, yet tirelessly labored to transform society to be just, merciful, and loving. And he gave hope to those who were hopeless! Stevenson, still practicing law today, loves in action. As Christians, may we mirror his example, innovating ways we can embody the radical love and holistic peace of Jesus in our own neighborhoods.

http://www.brethren.org/yya/resources.html#bridge