Bryan Stevenson, author of “Just Mercy,” visited OC last year and continues to inspire students in 2020

OC organized a group viewing of the new film and continues to engage in complex dialogue on social justice reform

January 10, 2020 - “Just Mercy” is a legal drama starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx that opened nationwide on Jan. 10. It is based on the true story of Walter McMillian and his wrongful imprisonment for the murder of a white woman in Alabama. The movie follows a young attorney, Bryan Stevenson, who helps McMillian appeal his death sentence. 

Oklahoma Christian University’s Criminal Justice program hosted Stevenson in 2019. He led a daylong session over criminal justice reform and talked about his 2014 memoir and New York Times best-seller, “Just Mercy,” which the movie is based on. The book was given to OC students before Stevenson’s visit. OC was honored to host Stevenson to encourage complex dialogue on campus about serious topics.  

Stevenson has dedicated his life to challenging racial discrimination in the U.S. criminal justice system. He is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. EJI has helped exonerate and free multiple people who were wrongfully convicted of a crime. Stevenson is also a professor at the New York University School of Law. In addition, Stevenson founded the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, informally known as the National Lynching Memorial in Montgomery. Learn more about Stevenson here.

OC’s Black Student Union kept up the dialogue started by Stevenson’s visit by selling $2 tickets to the movie; more than 150 watched the film Jan. 10. This film is opening students’ eyes to more stories like McMillian’s and inspiring reform in the U.S. justice system.  

Visit here to learn more about OC’s Criminal Justice program, and click here to learn more about the many events OC hosted about social justice reform on the day Stevenson spoke at OC.