Isabella Morales

Critical Thinking and Writing I

Dr. Tarnoff

21 October 2019

Redemption Takes Two

Redemption involves the determination of two people: one who must be saved from

unjust evil and one who reaches out their hand to do the saving. In the book, ​Just Mercy,​ Brian

Stevenson shares the stories of inmates on death row who seek to be saved from America’s

corrupt justice system. Throughout the book, he shines a light on the hidden injustices within the

system, including children being incarcerated and the racist ideologies ingrained within the

institution. In several of his accounts, Stevenson uses aspects of religion to juxtapose the grim

results of being given the death penalty and to highlight the hypocrisy of a country that claims to

be built on Christian virtues. In using this motif, he shows the reader how “getting close” to

someone can reveal redeeming qualities of that person and their desire to be forgiven. The

repetition of religion in the face of inmates’ impending death also demonstrates these

individual’s unwavering hope and need for mercy. Using this aspect of getting to know the

whole person and showing that they still have hope in otherwise hopeless situations, Stevenson

aims to express that “​Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.​” (14)

The first time Stevenson “gets close” is in the telling of his first meeting with a black

man on death row who only introduces himself as Henry. A recent graduate of Harvard Law

School and intern at the Southern Prisoners Defense Committee, Stevenson visits Georgia

Diagnostic and Classification Center to inform Henry that he would not be dying in the next
year. Though the meeting starts off with a nervous Stevenson immediately expressing his

sympathy, as well as his inexperience, he eventually reveals the news to Henry. Henry reacts in

an exuberant manner, even expressing that he can allow his family to visit without them

worrying about an execution date. Stevenson is surprised by Henry’s reaction as he had initially

only thought of him as a “condemned man” (6), devoid of joy and excitement. Though this

sparks a moment of astonishment within him, his mindset is not truly changed until Henry begins

to passionately sing a hymn which Stevenson recognizes from his childhood. Though one would

see this act as strange, Stevenson sees this song as a prized moment, stating, “Henry’s voice was

filled with desire. I experienced this song as a precious gift.” (11) This show by Henry is a cry of

delight and joy at even the slightest mention of him being able to keep his life. In singing the

lyrics, “A higher plane, that I have found. Lord, plant my feet on Higher Ground.” (11), Henry

expresses his commitment to God and the fact that God will lift his spirits and place him in better

standing with the world. He has great hope for the future and Stevenson witnesses this call for

justice and redemption. Although the justice system has stripped him down to the title of a

“criminal,” Henry appeals to the emotions of Stevenson by showcasing his gratitude and thus

allows the reader to see this side of incarcerated peoples as well. In recounting that Henry is

singing a hymn while the guard is aggressively pushing him out of the visiting room, Stevenson

creates a contrast between religion and the justice system, which emphasizes the cruelness

towards inmates on death row. A man is simply singing a religious song after being told literal

life-saving news and is brutally handled by someone of authority. Yet, despite this harsh

treatment, Henry keeps his spirits high and shows that he is worthy of and grateful for the chance

to be redeemed.

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 In the case of Herbert Richardson, Stevenson “keeps close” by explaining Herbert’s

backstory and describing the final moments before his execution. Only taking in the crime which

he commits, Herbert can be painted as a malicious murderer whose handmade bomb causes the

deaths of two younger girls. However, after reading Stevenson’s explanation, the reader is able

to gain a better sense of who Herbert is and why his actions, though not completely moral, were

not intentional. Herbert was a veteran of the Vietnam War who returned to the U.S. with a

chronic case of PTSD caused by being the only survivor of a platoon raid. After his wife and

children leave him due to his uncontrollable behavior, Herbert checked into a veterans’ hospital

to help control his outbursts and go through recovery. Obsession over one of the hospital’s

nurses got the better of him causing him to leave a small bomb in front of her door which he

would use as a reason to save her. Though Stevenson presents these details to the reader, they are

left out of the report for Herbert’s case which lands him on death row. In learning about

Herbert’s struggles with mental health, the reader is able to better understand his story and why

he would carry out such extreme actions. Stevenson makes the reader “get close” to Herbert in

order to see how improves from the incident and actually hopes to redeem himself from his

actions. After all, it is Herbert who calls Stevenson in order to ask for his help, pleading, “...I

don’t think I can make it if there is no hope at all. Just say you’ll do something and let me have

some hope.” (49). Despite having a difficult case, Herbert is still determined to be saved and

believes he deserves some level of justice. Though Hebert is not given the opportunity to be

redeemed by the justice system, there is some kind of saving quality in the moments before his

execution. As tears are shed by Herbert’s wife and the prison guards become rowdy while trying

to get her to leave Herbert’s side, Stevenson begins to hum the tune of “Old Rugged Cross,” a

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hymn which Herbert requested to be played as he approached the electric chair. Stevenson is

initially confused by his humming and states that he believed, “It seemed like something that

might help. But help what?” (57). Although it isn’t clearly expressed, Stevenson is trying to

remedy the situation in the most traditional way he knows how to and redeem Herbert in the

name of religion. This last act of hope for Herbert and Stevenson demonstrates Herbert’s ability

to be redeemed, even in the final minutes of his life, and Stevenson’s shift in his views of

redemption for incarcerated persons.

Throughout his book, Stevenson tells the stories of several inmates and their desire to get

off of death row. In these processes, these people acknowledge that they have committed a

heinous act, but also recognize that they were not given justice and a fair trial following their

actions. In the case of Henry and Herbert, these men either realize their potential hope after

hearing life-saving news or want to be redeemed from their damaged images as “malicious” and

“killers.” Through Stevenson’s story-telling, he restores the humanity of these men and reminds

them and the reader that they are beyond the worst thing they have ever done. Stevenson reminds

them that they should be given the chance at redemption, and in some moments, provides that

redemption for some of the inmates. In the act of “getting close” and using religion, Stevenson

reveals the personhood of incarcerated people such as Henry and Herbert and emphasizes that

they are indeed worthy and deserving of justice and mercy.

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 Works Cited

Stevenson, Bryan. ​Just Mercy.​ Spiegel & Grau. 21 October 2014. PDF. Accessed 26 September

2019.

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