Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

by Bryan Stevenson

The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned.

had started arguing that we would never think it was humane to pay someone to rape people convicted of rape or assault and abuse someone guilty of assault or abuse. Yet we were comfortable killing people who kill, in part because we think we can do it in a manner that doesn’t implicate our own humanity, the way that raping or abusing someone would. I couldn’t stop thinking that we don’t spend much time contemplating the details of what killing someone actually involves.

had said that these were things they wanted; the only thing they needed was hope.

The kind of hope that creates a willingness to position oneself in a hopeless place and be a witness, that allows one to believe in a better future, even in the face of abusive power. That kind of hope makes one strong.