The Temple Israel Anti-Racism Task Force invites you to a movie/book review, led by Dr. Tara J. Hayes, M.A., Ph.D. "JUST MERCY", by Bryan Stevenson. “Just Mercy” is based on the powerful and thought-provoking true story of young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the main testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings, as well as overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds—and the system—stacked against them.

We encourage you to view the movie or read the book prior to the event.

Watch the Movie: https://www.justmercyfilm.com/

Purchase The Book: Book For Adults: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Mercy-Story-Justice-Redemption/dp/081298496X
Book Adapted for young Adults: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Mercy-Adapted-Young-Adults/dp/0525580034

A Message from Tara

Greetings, beautiful people, and thank you all for registering to participate in Temple Israel’s discussion of Bryan Stevenson’s memoir Just Mercy as adapted by Destin Daniel Cretton to film starring Michael B. Jordan (Bryan Stevenson), Jamie Foxx (Walter McMillian), Rob Morgan (Herbert Richardson).

On Monday 28 February 2022 at 7pm, we will begin our discussion with the film and memoir title: Just Mercy.  Think about the phrase’s multiplicity.  What is just mercy?  What is the power of just mercy? As we think about the film as a whole, what are the impacts and ramifications of both just and unjust mercy?   
 

From our overarching responses, we will then return our attention to the film’s opening image and scene.  [If you have not already been to the website for Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative and Museum – and even if you have – I urge you to visit and navigate its offerings. Here are a few links to get you started:

http://eji.org/

https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pUNPAsI6zc. (What are the audience’s first impressions, and how does the scene that emerges from the initial image both introduce the film and challenge us to see with broader view, with sharper, clearer vision?)
 

The film’s focus is death row, life without parole, black men in prison.  Look carefully at the scenes with Foxx and Jordan interacting and at all of Rob Morgan’s scenes.  Think about the film’s juxtaposition of what is happening to McMillian (Foxx) on the “inside” and to Stevenson (Jordan) on the “outside.”  How does the film’s portrayal of the Walter McMillian (Foxx) case in particular as well as those he – and so we/audiences – meet at once reveal and interrogate our criminal justice system at local, state and federal levels? How does what happens to McMillian specifically and the death penalty more generally “implicate our own humanity” (Stevenson 91), and what are we/audiences expected to do with this new knowledge?  As Stevenson (Jordan) takes the case and nurtures his Equal Justice Initiative, what does his example demand of all of us?
 

As Stevenson himself says, “We need more hope. We need more mercy. We need more justice” (214).  How does the film demonstrate Stevenson’s passion, position, and make his case?

I look forward to our discussion on 28 February 2022.

Tara J. Hayes, M.A., Ph.D.

Questions contact: Kim Heraud at 248-661-5700 or kheraud@temple-israel.org
This event is supported by The Newman Family Fund for Library Programs & Resources