Bryan Stevenson's Argumentative Essay

What if your best friend went on an adventure. They had everything they had ever wanted. They didn't tell you or their family where they were going or how long they would be gone. They just picked up and left. Would you respect their decision to not tell anyone their plans? Would you think that this was a good idea of theirs, or would you think that this was a stupid decision on their part? Well this is what Christopher McCandless did. In 1968 McCandless was born. He was born to a good, wealthy, and happy family. He had everything any child could ever wish for. He was smart, athletic, and had a good education. In June 1990 he completed collage. In July of 1990 Christopher McCandless left his family and almost all belongings, and didn't tell anyone where he was going, or how long he'd be gone. Three years later McCandless was found dead in a blue bus located in Alaska. He had died of starvation. He went off and, ¨lived his life.¨ McCandless went out and lived in the wild. While Christopher McCandless died peacefully, the question has arose on whether McCandless was a noble adventurer or an arrogant fool. The evidence from many stories and social media clearly states that McCandless was in fact an arrogant fool. Christopher McCandless was an arrogant fool because he was not prepared, he

Bryan Stevenson was a lawyer based out of Montgomery, Alabama. He helped many of these people get an honest, fair sentence. Through the publication of his book, he has educated many on the reality of our prison systems in America. He shares his firsthand accounts of children being charged as adults, innocent men being charged for crimes they had clearly not had any involvement with, and women living in poverty being charged with murder for burying their stillborn children. All of these cases had one thing in common: poverty.

The book, “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson pleas to fix the current unfair and fragmented system of criminal justice and juvenile justice. The book’s plot focuses majority on Stevenson’s work and his clients. The main narrative tackles the story of Walter McMillan, who was accused of killing a white woman, but despite hard evidence that would prove he’s innocent, is disregarded by the court due to his race. The main issue was not even the lack of care for racial equality in this case, but the fact that he was placed on death row before his case went to trial. This is one of many unjust cases that have happened in the past and that are currently happening in the system revolving around the death penalty. The remaining excerpts from the book

In the book he says “Of course innocent mistakes occur but the accumulated insults and indignations caused by racial presumptions are destructive in ways that are hard to measure. Constantly being suspected, accused, watched, doubted, distrusted, presumed guilty, and even feared is a burden born by people of color that can't be understood or confronted without a deeper conversation about our history of racial injustice.” While I agree with equal justice, the cause that Stevenson stands for, I believe that Stevenson’s deep sense of dedication to helping those that are unequipped to help themselves stems from his unique experiences as a poor black youth, which may also serve to taint his perception of justice. Although I do believe that “It is better that ten guilty persons shall go free than one innocent person should suffer” as we argued in discussion 3.1, I do not believe that once someone has been found guilty of certain heinous crimes they shouldn’t be able to get their sentence reduced or even be released based on a technicality (requirement of the law) due to improper procedure or unamended statute.

Many are put onto death row without actually having a fighting chance to plead their case, provide the full story, and prove their innocence. Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer who fights for those who have been left for dead and aren’t given a second chance. Bryan Stevenson is a social justice activist, the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and a clinical professor at New York University School of Law. He founded the Equal Justice Initiative in 1989. Stevenson has fought long and hard for those whose voices have been silenced because of their ethnicity and background. His views have been strongly influenced by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where the faithful attendees of the church had celebrated for 'standing up after having fallen down, ' showing Bryan that no matter how many times you are knocked down, you can always pick yourself back up and there will always be someone there to lend you a helping hand. Making Bryan want to be that helping hand, to be the on there when someone had no one else to turn to. These experiences informed his belief that "each person in our society is more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.” When Stevenson was sixteen, his grandfather, Clarence L. Golden, was stabbed to death in his Philadelphia home during a robbery.Bryan stevenson has dedicated himself to fighting poverty and challenging

So, Marlowe Stroker (my 15 year old daughter) looks over at me today while watching the news and replay of Trump's (Billy Bush) talk about women and she says, "Are you voting for him?" No, I am not...but, I cannot vote for Hillary, so I will write in Pence's name when I vote. Hillary may win but I cannot vote for either of them. To me,they are both on the level of egotistical, narcissistic and bigoted jerks. Either way, we as a country do not win. However, I will have taken a stand, a very small stand for my daughter and her future, which is so much better than generations before

When you see yourself living out your dream, the thought of what you're most passionate about pulls you in. Passions in one's life change based on what had affected that person. Dreams are defined to change. However, the benefits of these thoughts is that they belong to you and only you. Not one person's opinions matter but your own. Chris McCandless simply was living out his own ideal life, the way he wanted; not to the idea of his parents, his friends or of society. McCandless wanted to escape society and civilization which he felt was tying him down, while also trying to discover himself. McCandless is not by any means a wacko. He was simply defying society and its ideal expectation it holds upon us as a whole.

The Walter McMillian, Joe Sullivan, and George Daniel cases all have a lasting impact on Bryan Stevenson and his novel, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. The underlying theme found in each case is that of being wrongly convicted of a crime. Unlike many of Stevenson’s cases, these three end positively - with either a lesser sentence, or the removal from prison. These accomplishments, however, took much time and effort due to the differing factors of each case, making them unique and one of a kind. Nonetheless, all three cases share one common detail, Bryan Stevenson and his practice, the Equal Justice Initiative, work to help these men gain the freedom that was stolen from them.

There are always two sides to an argument, but different people have different opinions on which side is right and wrong; as a result, we can compare a debate or argument as of a coin, due to the fact that it has two sides. When it comes to the topic of judicial system in America, most of us will readily agree that it needs to be reformed. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of who will step forward and make changes to the court system. Whereas some are convinced that no one is going to do anything about it, others maintain that the government will be the savior by making the changes. In the introduction of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice And Redemption, by Bryan Stevenson -an American lawyer, social justice activist, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and a clinical professor at New York University School of Law- Stevenson emphasizes that people are not being treated fairly in the judicial system of America. The book was written to give readers a close up look on mass incarceration and extreme punishment given in America. Convincing the readers is not easy, except if the author uses strategic techniques such as ethos, pathos, and logos. It is even more tough if the topic is sensitive and debatable as this one. Stevenson used these three techniques in a variety of different ways to convince the readers.

Bryan Stevenson’s primary focus as a lawyer is death penalty cases and fights to get wrongfully accused inmates off death row. We are introduced to Walter McMillan’s case where he is charged for a crime he did not commit. Despite hard evidence that would prove he’s innocent, because its coming from the black community, its disregarded by the court. He even had an all-white jury involved in his case. In fact, the most shocking part about this case is that Walter was placed on death row before his case went to trial, which is illegal. This is one of the many unjust cases that have happened in the past and that are currently happening.

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

Jimmie Cates is a forty-four-year-old first felony offender who is requesting a pardon with restoration of firearms for his conviction of Simple Burglary. He was sentenced to serve two years hard labor in the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Mr. Cates has one arrest for the instant offense and was placed on supervised probation. He completed his term of probation successfully and has no probation or parole revocations.

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

Have you ever been so desperate that you were willing to give up? Alfred is seventeen year old boy who dropped out from high school. Alfred works at a grocery store and hangs out with street kids. Alfred begins to realize that he needs to do something he decided that he will be a Contender. He goes to Donatelli's gym to start his training. Donatelli is a very important person to Alfred throughout the story. He also gets good advice from him and learns a good important lesson.

Stevenson will reference other people and describes the crimes they had committed with the sentence they were given. These cases were, explained through Stevenson, examples of how our legal system holds corrupt individuals of that profession as well as the use of improper sentencing to those wrongfully convicted of the crimes they have and or haven’t done. Throughout the book we can see what Stevenson endures within his work life and social life. He encountered a confrontation with white police officers which then shined light on how the African American race were being treated based off their race which correlated to a specific stereotype. As an audience, we were left in the end with an understanding of how the McMillian case impacted Bryan Stevenson for the better and the worst.