H. English 10 Singh 1 Steinkamp 3/6/2024 Pathos and Ethos Biopsy of Just Mercy The impeccable book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, is a gateway to see how the author takes a stand on for people who get wrongfully incarcerated and have no one to take a stand for them. As well as showing the development of his remarkable reputation throughout their experiences throughout the book. Ethos and Pathos are shown through Stevenson's development of persevering and the raw emotion that he shows he finds himself doing the part. Ethos is an appeal to credibility; allows the reader to see the reputation of the author or character being developed in a story; allows them to state a sense of credibility. In Just Mercy, the author opens with Stevenson being …show more content…
The mark of credibility is stated when the reader comes to know that Stevenson received education from a colored school, known for having an education or support system nowhere near the systems of white schools. Yet still Stevenson got admitted to Harvard Law shows how far he has come and how smart he truly is. As Stevenson starts receiving more cases, he feels the need. Singh 2 to create an organization where it would be more of a concrete platform to receive cases and make a beacon in his community for more people who deserve justice. thus, he approached Rosa Parks with," a Law Project called the Equal Justice Initiative, and we are trying to help people on death row.We want to free people who have been wrongfully convicted" (Stevenson 159). On and on Stevenson readers start to notice a pattern in which the cases Stevenson takes an interest in. was only right that he would have a concrete team and building to support him all the way. As he wins more and more, he is starting to be viewed as a credible person. He even presented his idea to Rosa Parks, who was a huge African American civil rights activist, a very credible person agreeing to
Stevenson works hard to free this man and many other men and women after so many years of their lives were spent in prison. Stevenson presents several concrete facts to expose the truth of the United States justice system. Stevenson effectively uses logos in the book by proving Walter McMillian’s
The book starts by going through Stevenson’s early years in college becoming a lawyer and spending time working as an intern with the Southern Prisoners Defense Comity. It was here that Stevenson recognized why he needed to help destroy discrimination and unfairness of the justice system. He states in the Introduction chapter “My short time
Stevenson decides to advocate
Without faith, there is no hope, and without hope there is no true faith. As a believer myself, I am not sure why he made the negative comment to the Jennings who are Charlie redemption and hope in the face of suffering. I know as believer we get discouraged, get caught up in the facts of the past, and find it hard to let the past go. Stevenson preaches mercy throughout his book, but the Jennings are willing to be Charlies’ hope, redemption, salvation, mercy, and love that he so desperately needs. The Jennings did experience a terrible tragic loss of their grandson and they see helping Charlie achieve a different outcome and maybe redeeming themselves at the same
Stevenson describes the case by the name of Walter McMillian sentenced to death for the accusations of killing a white women in Monroeville, Alabama. Stevenson represented McMillan as his lawyer in the late 1980’s when evidence was ignored proving his innocence. The local authorities make a case for McMillian , even though many witnesses stated he was at church fundraiser at his home when the murder had taken place. He was sent to
In “A Gun to His Head as a Child. In Prison as an Adult,” the consequences of the traumatic childhood of Rob Sullivan are narrated by Audra D.S. Burch. Sullivan had made multiple trips to jail throughout his life, all was due to not having a proper childhood. In Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson relays multiple stories of imprisonment of black males who received severe punishment such as the death sentence. Stevenson’s main goal is to bring racism and legal injustice to light, to achieve this aim, Stevenson
Author of the novel Just Mercy and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), Bryan Stevenson shares his belief that is, “Each of us is more than the worst we’ve ever done”- (Stevenson “Message” 1). In this message from the author, Steveson shares and establishes the belief that he has developed during his many years of working with our corrupt and broken criminal justice system. He wants his readers to know that he is a man who has faith and is determined to make a change and give justice to the wrongfully incarcerated and sentenced. In the novel Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson tells us the story of his life and how he became a fighter for justice and truth in a system full of corruption, bias, and lies. Stevenson also shares his
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption is an autobiographical account written by Bryan Stevenson. The book details Stevenson’s trials and tribulations as a civil rights lawyer practicing during the height of discrimination and racism in America. Stevenson founded The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a law firm in Montgomery Alabama, to defend minorities and the disadvantaged who were wrongfully convicted or sentenced unfairly. Convictions were often long processes which were filled with setbacks. The trials were often riddled with corruption, injustice and blatant dishonesty. Thus, many innocent people, or those who were simply incapable of knowing right from wrong, were imprisoned or sentenced to death. Despite numerous injustices and reasons to lose hope and perspective, Stevenson is able to evoke change which instills a feeling of hope within the reader as well
Stevenson uses persuasive techniques, including repetition, rhetorical questions, and appeals to emotion throughout his
The book "Just Mercy" is a book that Stevenson wrote aknowledging the Economical Injustice in a racial world and how american social and ethnicity can affect the American legal system. Being the author, narrator, and protagonist of the book, Stevenson was a poor African American male growing up in a rural community in Delaware. Post High school, Stevenson continued his studies at Harvard Law School. There he and friend, Eva Ansley birthed the Equal Justice Initiative. Stevenson worked as an activist and lawyer. He stood by victims that were wrongfully accused some to be men, women and children of all races. Stevensons passion and drive for his clients exuded well throughout the entire book.It often displays many challenges he faced. Through his perseverance and dedication he paved a way for many people within the cases that he took on.
He dedicated his life to serve those who are in need the most and needs his Help. He opens an organization call the Equal Justice Initiative that is responsible for freeing or reducing the sentences of scores of wrongfully convicted individuals. Although, Stevenson faced a lot of problems, for example, the walter case where there were false evidence against him, Stevenson was still able to serve him justice. With Stevenson’s help many young kids, the falsely convicted and the ill were able to receive justice.
While addressing such issues Stevenson talks about the different clients he’s represented and each of their stories. His clients range from: abused and neglected children who are prosecuted as adults, abused and drug addicted women, mentally disabled people, and those that were wrongly convicted and sentenced to life without parole or death, with little to no evidence or even proper counsel. He tells the reader about the 16 hour work days, the thousands of miles driven to different correctional institutions or to track down leads in an investigation, and the little to no pay he receives from his clients; but it’s worth it to him if just one life is saved.
Stevenson believes that in the justice system we have a “disturbing indifference to inaccurate or unreliable verdicts, our comfort with bias, and our tolerance of unfair prosecutions and convictions”(17). McMillian’s case proves this point because, there was unreliable witnesses that charged McMillian with the murder of Morrison. Ralph Myers was the man who told the police that McMillian was responsible for the murder of Morrison. Investigation started to show that Myers had never met McMillian. ABI agents proved this by “having Myers meet up with McMillian at a grocery store while they monitored the interaction”(33). “Myers could not identify McMillian amongst several black men present he had
Instead, he confides to his readers that he felt scared, that the cops never apologized, and that he spoke calmly to the officer the entire time. Although he was not in the wrong and most people would have acted differently towards the situation, by not making a scene towards the cops we witness a visible ignorance to this uncanny treatment. By Stevenson acting tolerate to the situation, nothing life changing happened to him, and I think the world should take note of the way he reacted towards this happening. If he would have not remained strong and respectful to the officer, he may have been killed or arrested, so by demonstrating this strength of tolerability nothing too bad happens. He also does not write to receive pity on this horrible situation-meaning, he says nothing to make readers feel sorry for him.
Stevenson becomes largely aware of all of the injustices, specifically all the racial injustices that occur within the prisons and specifically within death row. This injustice that occurs within death row is saddening to observe, especially when it comes down to ending one’s life. Stevenson reminds his audience that everyone makes mistakes and deserves mercy because no one is perfect, however every life has value. His most prevailing case of this is the Walter McMillian case. At this time in 1980s, Alabama has the fastest growing prison population. Stevenson therefore spends much of his time in Alabama for the defense of McMillian as he is accused of murder and an alleged drug lord and rapist. With the defense of Walter’s community on his side along with his connection with EJI (Equal Justice Initiative), Stevenson was determined to