Just Mercy is a must-see film! It will move you to tears, and prayerfully compel you to act. The film is based upon the New York Times bestselling book. It revolves around the faith-rooted activism of Bryan Stevenson (played by Michael B. Jordan) and the creation of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). Just Mercy recounts the tragic story of Walter McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx). McMillian, nicknamed Johnny D., an African American who owned a lumber company in a small Alabama town, was framed for the murdering of Ronda Morrison—an eighteen-year-old white girl.
Stevenson writes, “We are all implicated when we allow other people to be mistreated. An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a community, a state, a nation. Fear and anger can make us vindictive and abusive, unjust and unfair until we all suffer from the absence of mercy and we condemn ourselves as much as we victimize others. The closer we get to mass incarceration and extreme levels of punishment, the more I believe it’s necessary to recognize that we all need mercy, we all need justice, and-perhaps-we all need some measure of unmerited grace.” We have the power to help transform our broken criminal justice system.
Learn more about how from the film and this movie discussion guide Just Mercy film questions.