Just Mercy: I'll Fly Away

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Just Mercy: I'll Fly Away

Stevenson, B. (2014). Just Mercy. New York: One World Publishing. Pages 203-226.

In spite of my focus on Walter McMillian's case, Stevenson's book isn't about McMillian's sentencing and subsequent time spent in the Alabama Court of Appeals alone. Through Stevenson's narrative, we have seen the birth of the Equal Justice Initiative, the development of Stevenson's legal team, and EJI's subsequent early courtroom successes. We've also seen Stevenson and his legal team fear for their safety -- and their lives -- as they've fielded threats from citizens of Monroe county and navigated the terrifying reality of a white supremacist turned serial bomber. 

'I'll Fly Away' picks up six years since Walter McMillian's detainment. Through his battle in the Alabama criminal justice system, we have seen the impact of systemic racism on every level: Anti-black citizens. Police officers. Investigators. Prison wardens. District Attorneys. Appellate judges. It wasn't just Walter with the cards stacked against him, either, as Stevenson faced anti-Blackness professionally at each of these levels as well. 

It's important to note that we've moved away from the treacly parallels between Stevenson's story and To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch and Bryan Stevenson's trajectories have taken sharp turns in opposite directions: Atticus Finch is protected in his whiteness and reputation as a town hero in such a way that, even if he draws the ire from members of the community, his career is safe. His family is safe. And, ultimately, Atticus loses his case and sees Tom Robinson sentenced to prison where he ultimately dies. In 'I'll Fly Away', we see the fullness of Stevenson's divergence into an entirely other narrative. He has fought hard for and ultimately won the empathy and respect of his peers, a process made more difficult by clear examples of internalized racism. He has feared for his safety, and the safety of his Black clients. And now, we will see the ultimate way Stevenson and Finch diverge: Stevenson will watch McMillian walk away a free man.


When Stevenson points out to the McMillians that Walter's struggle is far from over, he's bringing it to our attention as well. However, it's Minnie McMillian, Walter's wife, who drops a truth-bomb on all of us: He may have left prison, but there may not be a home for him in Monroeville for a long time. The effects of McMillian's experience in the Alabama criminal justice system would not end on the day his charges were dismissed -- he, and the rest of his family, now faced rebuilding their lives in a community that continued to be hostile in spite of a mountain of evidence that proved his innocence. 

I was surprised that this chapter wasn't the end of the story for Stevenson, and I'm curious to see what unfolds in the final chapters -- including whether the story is over for the McMillians. I can only hope that they're somewhere in the world now enjoying lives filled with peace.

Comments

  1. Ashleigh HancockOctober 11, 2020 at 3:35 PM

    Hi Anna,

    I think the way you highlighted the stark difference between Bryan Stevenson and the fictional Atticus Finch here is really powerful! The bomb threats the early staff of the Equal Justice Initiative experienced shocked and horrified me. It's so disappointing to think that anyone could see the work they're doing as anything other than vitally important.

    And I too hoped for some peace for Walter McMillian as I was reading this. He went through so much because of this massive miscarriage of justice. It's devastating, and I was grateful to finally read about some kind of victory for him.

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