Just Mercy Book Club // Grab your copy now, and join the conversation!

We are excited to announce our summer OER Conference for Social Studies Book Club pick! This month you are invited to join us in reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, who happens to be our keynote speaker on August 3. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. Under his leadership, EJI has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aiding children prosecuted as adults.

Our community discussion about Just Mercy will be led by Jayson Wilkinson from the OER Project Team, and Hajra Saeed, BHP teacher in Long Beach, CA.  We’ll kick off with our first book club driving question on July 15 right here in this thread, located in the OER Conference for Social Studies discussion forum. We’ll post a new driving question each Thursday for three weeks leading up to the conference which takes place August 3-5. So don't wait, grab a copy of the book, bookmark this thread so you can return on the 15th, and prepare for some rich discussions with other members of the community. Let the reading begin! 

Just Mercy // Week One Questions

We are excited to start our book club conversation on Just Mercy as we make our way to Bryan Stevenson’s August 3rd keynote address in the OER Conference for Social Studies. Post your thoughts and answers to the questions below, or add your own question.  and  will be leading the conversation and will be checking in throughout the day to respond to the discussion.   

  • Did Just Mercy make you want to explore an aspect of the U.S. criminal justice system more closely? If so, what part and why?  
  • In Just Mercy, Stevenson tells us his story of growth and discovery in relation to his understanding of the U.S. criminal justice system. Have you had a similar journey in your own life? 

Post your comments below and let's get the conversation started!

Just Mercy // Week Two Questions

  • As you are reading Just Mercy, is there a quote that "sticks with you?" Why? 
  • Is there a specific call to action that can be taken from a reading of Just Mercy? If so, what is it? 

Let's continue the conversation by posting in the comments below.

Just Mercy // Week Three Questions

  • How do the topics and concepts in Just Mercy connect to your work with students? 
  • What lessons from Just Mercy or Stevenson are you taking with you as you prepare to welcome students back to our school communities in the fall? 
  • Do know of a specific person (whether they are a personal connection, colleague, or something else) that would benefit from reading and discussing Just Mercy with you? What makes you think that and what lessons might they learn?

Post your response to the questions in the comments below as we complete our final week of the Book Club. Be sure to join us for Bryan Stevenson's Keynote Address on August 3 at 9:00 AM PDT!

Top Replies

  • The quote that sticks with me is "We are all broken by something. We have all hurt someone and have been hurt. We all share the condition of brokenness even if our brokenness is not equivalent." It stuck…

  • For me, Just Mercy really pushed me to question my position in institutions. When I started teaching, I think I was comfortable just doing what I was told and keeping my head above water in my new school…

  • Is it possible that I jump on to the Just Mercy Train? I got to the station late, and would love to hop aboard if it is still an option. Can I hop aboard.  

Parents
  • The quote that sticks with me is "We are all broken by something. We have all hurt someone and have been hurt. We all share the condition of brokenness even if our brokenness is not equivalent." It stuck with me because it was a very poignant acknowledgement of the fact that everyone suffers, but it left with an emphasis on non-equivalence. While we should all develop empathy and compassion, we also have to recognize differences in power, and differences in the magnitude of our suffering and our brokenness. It's a human condition, which can unite us, but it's also so sharply stratified. Our vulnerability looks so different. 

Reply
  • The quote that sticks with me is "We are all broken by something. We have all hurt someone and have been hurt. We all share the condition of brokenness even if our brokenness is not equivalent." It stuck with me because it was a very poignant acknowledgement of the fact that everyone suffers, but it left with an emphasis on non-equivalence. While we should all develop empathy and compassion, we also have to recognize differences in power, and differences in the magnitude of our suffering and our brokenness. It's a human condition, which can unite us, but it's also so sharply stratified. Our vulnerability looks so different. 

Children
  • I have to admit that this one slipped by me at first but you inspired me to revisit the text and think about what this idea has meant for me during my time in education. The connection I see takes me back to my 3rd grade classroom. Having the clarity of mind and maturity to look past a student's rough day or challenging behavior, and to see them as individuals impacted by circumstances beyond their control, was not always easy to muster. The quote is a challenge to all of us to find that empathy for our students and the world that we're hoping to help them build.

  • I love this quote as well. Thanks for sharing!

  • This quote rings so true. It reminds me of the phrase be kind as you are unaware of the struggles that others have been through, which speaks to the concept of common decency and healthy interpersonal relationships. The phrase "we are all cracked pots follows this sentiment. We all have some sort of imperfection, but it is what we do, or what the imperfection causes us to do. Are we going to hide behind it and cover it by being offensive to others? Prejudice is born in fear. WE all need to accept our fears and imperfections and recognize them as a source of strength rather than motivation to lash out at others. 

  • Thank you. I've read so much this year, I admit I'm waiting on Just Mercy...but this quote is a great unifier for me. Whether it is in the classroom as a way to get students to trust me, or to give a reluctant learner the trust-push they need, simply acknowledging that life has some characteristics that can help us all relate, is a great humanizing starting point. Its Empathy 101, once we realize we all are broken or have been broken, some of the biggest barriers to learning and trust go away. Nailed it  , thank you! looking forward to reading the book, just can't after a year in which I immersed myself in this both academically and in real life.

  •  , your explanation is perfect. It also reminded me of the graphic below. I think that we have to help our students see that our brokenness is not "equivalent" and that some need more support than others. Sometimes the other students see the additional supports for some as unfair, when in fact we are just trying our best to level the field a bit.

  • That's such a powerful image, and a great complement to that quote! We all need empathy and compassion from others, but the degree to which we need support varies drastically, and having compassion and empathy requires us to notice and attend to these differences. 

  •  , I love your comments and your insight.

    I especially like that you point out that we are required to notice differences. Aren't our differences (diversity) what we espouse to value?  It's devaluing  differences, in my opinion, that opens the door for hate to seep in.

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